System and method for monitoring/detecting and responding to infant breathing

ABSTRACT

This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for detecting, monitoring, and responding to abnormalities in an infant&#39;s breathing. One or more sensing devices may collect infant breathing related data, which may be filtered and converted to a frequency signal. The frequency signal may be monitored for irregularity or stoppage, and a processing module may determine whether the irregularity or stoppage is caused by an actual stoppage or irregularity in infant breathing. If infant breathing is determined to have stopped, a corrective action may be performed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/864,081, filed Jun. 20, 2019, the contents of which are herebyincorporated herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for detectingand monitoring infant breathing. In disclosed embodiments, systems andmethods are described for collecting infant breathing data, filteringsaid data and responding to changes in or interruption of a breathingsignal.

BACKGROUND

Crib death or SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is a leading cause ofinfant mortality. Approximately 2400 US babies die each year from SIDSduring the first year of life. The peak occurrence is from 2-4 months ofage, with 80% of the victims being under 4 months and 90% being under 6months of age.

While the exact cause of SIDS is unknown, the primary cause is believedto be immaturity of the breathing regulatory system in the brain. Inessence, it seems that babies “forget” to breath and their internalalarm system does not reliably arouse them to recommence breathing. Oncebreathing stops, the body becomes more and more hypoxemic and acidotic,leading to a downward spiral of reduced heart rate, dropping bloodpressure, cardiovascular collapse and death.

In the hospital setting, the use of an infant monitor immediately alertsthe healthcare workers if an infant stops breathing. The health careworkers can often resuscitate the infant with simple stimulation (e.g.vigorous jiggling), without the need of oxygen or formal CPR. However,in the home setting where such medical monitoring equipment may beunavailable, the need exists for a way to detect if infant breathing hasstopped so that a corrective action can occur before the onset ofserious adverse health effects or SIDS. By intervening as soon aspossible after an infant's breathing has stopped, it may become possibleto reduce the occurrence of SIDS and further lower infant mortalityrates.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, a process for identifying and responding to infantbreath detection may comprise: collecting infant motion data; filteringout non-breathing related motion data from the collected infant motiondata; converting the filtered breathing related motion data to afrequency domain associated with infant breathing; determining an infantbreathing profile within the frequency domain data corresponding to theinfant's breathing rhythm; when the infant breathing profile isinterrupted, determining if breathing has stopped; if breathing hasstopped, determining if the stoppage is normal or abnormal; and if thestoppage is abnormal, performing a corrective action.

In an embodiment, the infant motion data may be collected by a sensingdevice.

In an embodiment, the sensing device may further comprise a videoimaging sensor.

In an embodiment, the sensing device may further comprise a motionsensor.

In an embodiment, the sensing device may comprise motion sensor placedunderneath the infant. In one example, the motion sensor comprises avibration sensor.

In an embodiment, the motion or vibration data may comprise measurementsof relative movement of the infant's back.

In an embodiment, the sensing device may further comprise a soundsensor, such as one or more microphones or piezoelectric sensors. In oneexample, a sound sensor comprises vibration sensor for detecting audiowaves.

In an embodiment, breathing and/or heartrate information may be measuredin the audible spectrum.

In an embodiment, the motion sensor may further comprise a radar motionsensing device, or a laser motion sensing device.

In an embodiment, the resolution of the motion data may be at least 1mm.

In an embodiment, the motion data may comprise measurements of relativemovement of the infant's chest or stomach area.

In an embodiment, the infant's chest and/or stomach area may bespecifically the infant's lower chest and/or lower stomach area.

In an embodiment, the non-breathing related motion data may comprisemotion data that originates from infant movements, fabric movements,bassinet movement, or other non-breathing motion.

In an embodiment, the frequency domain associated with infant breathingmay be below 10 Hz.

In an embodiment, the corrective action may comprise generating anoutput signal.

In an embodiment, the output signal may be configured to be received bya control system of a moving platform, or by a remote alert system.

In various embodiments, the process includes filtering detected movementassociated with movement of the movable platform from collected infantdata.

In an embodiment, a breath detection system for identifying andresponding to infant breath detection may comprise: a sensing device forcollecting infant motion data; a data process module, the data processmodule comprising: a filter module, a frequency conversion module, adata analysis module, and a breath detection module; a communicationfacility configured to communicate between the sensing device and thedata process module; wherein the filter module is configured to filterout non-breathing related motion data from the collected infant motiondata; wherein the frequency conversion module is configured to convertthe filtered breathing related motion data to a frequency domainassociated with infant breathing; wherein the data analysis module isconfigured to determine an infant breathing profile within the frequencydomain data corresponding to the infant's breathing rhythm; wherein,when the infant breathing profile is interrupted, the breath detectionmodule determines if the infant breathing has stopped; wherein ifbreathing has been determined to have stopped, the breath detectionmodule is further configured to determine if the stoppage is normal orabnormal; and wherein if the stoppage is abnormal, the breath detectionmodule is further configured to generate an output signal.

In various embodiments, the breath detection system is configured foruse with a movable platform. The system may be configured to filterdetected movement associated with movement of the movable platform fromcollected infant data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsfeatures and advantages, reference is now made to the followingdescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1A depicts a process for generating an infant breathing profileaccording to various embodiments described herein;

FIG. 1B depicts a process for detecting, monitoring, and responding toabnormal or interrupted breathing according to various embodimentsdescribed herein;

FIG. 1C schematically illustrates a system for infant breath detectionaccording to various embodiments described herein;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a bassinet and platform foraccommodating an infant according to various embodiments describedherein;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of an infant sleep system for breathdetection according to various embodiments described herein;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an infant sleep system processingmodule according to various embodiments described herein;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an infant sleep garment and sleepplatform system according to various embodiments described herein;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an example buffer for use by a breathdetection module with respect to detection of intermittent breathing andbreath per minute analysis according to various embodiments describedherein;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a process flow for detecting breathingaccording to various embodiments;

FIG. 7 illustrates a method of detection of intermit breathing accordingto various embodiments described herein;

FIG. 8 illustrates a method of calculation of breaths per periodaccording to various embodiments described herein;

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a drive system according tovarious embodiments described herein;

FIG. 10 illustrates an isolated view of the drive module and drive beltattachment assembly of a drive system according to various embodimentsdescribed herein;

FIG. 11 illustrates a partial view of the drive system shown in FIG. 9positioned within a base with certain components removed for clarityaccording to various embodiments described herein;

FIG. 12 illustrates another view of the drive module shown in FIG. 10according to various embodiments described herein;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a configuration of a weight detectionsystem for a sleep device according to various embodiments describedherein;

FIG. 14 illustrates an exploded view in perspective of the weightdetection system for a sleep device show in FIG. 13 with the platformseparated from the base according to various embodiments describedherein;

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal cross-section view of the weight detectionsystem for a sleep device show in FIG. 13 according to variousembodiments described herein;

FIG. 16 is an isolated view in perspective of the platform mountdepicted in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 according to various embodimentsdescribed herein;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a breath sensor according to variousembodiments described herein;

FIG. 18 is a cross-section view of the breath sensor shown in FIG. 17taken along section 21 in FIG. 17 according to various embodimentsdescribed herein;

FIG. 19 is an exploded view of the breath sensor shown in FIG. 17according to various embodiments described herein;

FIG. 20 is an exploded view of the breath sensor shown in FIG. 17according to various embodiments described herein;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a breath sensor according to variousembodiments described herein; and

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a base and platform of a sleep deviceincluding a breath sensor according to various embodiments describedherein.

DESCRIPTION

The present application discloses systems and methods for identifyingabnormal infant breathing. The present application also disclosessystems and methods of responding to abnormal infant breath stoppage. Invarious embodiments, breath detection systems may be configure toidentify abnormal infant breathing and/or response to abnormal infantbreath stoppage. In one example, identification of abnormal infantbreathing may include detecting infant data such as infant movementand/or sound data related to breathing. The infant data may be analyzedto identify breathing patterns. Breathing patterns may be compared tobreathing profiles to identify abnormal deviations from the breathingprofile. In some embodiments, breathing profiles may be individualizedto a particular infant, generic, or may be selected based oncharacteristics of an infant, which may be input by a user or detectedand/or measured by a breath detection system. In one example, a breathdetection system may include multiple breathing profiles that may beselected by the system based on an input age, weight, e.g., birth weightor current weight, sex, medical condition, or other data associated withthe infant. In an embodiment, a breath detection system mayindividualize a breathing profile from a generic or selected breathingprofile during an infant's use of the system. For example, the systemmay measure and analyze breathing patterns and update a breathingprofile to individualize an initial breathing profile. Upondetermination that abnormal breathing has occurred, which may includecessation of breathing, the breath detection system may be configured togenerate a response signal. The response signal may initiate an alarm orcall to a caregiver, a sound, motion of a movement platform of abassinet, or other action. FIG. 1A illustrates a process 10 forgenerating an infant breathing profile according to various embodiments.In some embodiments, systems or devices, such as breath detectionsystems described herein, may be configured to execute process 10.

In process 10, step 12 comprises collecting infant data related to thebreathing of an infant. In one example, collecting infant data includescollecting motion data related to infant breathing. In one example,collecting infant data includes collecting sound data related to infantbreathing. In one example, collecting infant data includes collectingsound data and motion data related to infant breathing. In someembodiments, collecting motion data related to infant breathing,collecting sound data related to infant breathing, or both includesutilizing multiple types or sources of such data for creation of arobust input. For example, a sensor device, which may include multiplesensor devices and/or types of sensors, e.g., motion, sound, orcombinations thereof, may be positioned around an infant to collectinfant data, which may include sensors positioned at different locationsto collect infant data. Sensors may be positioned on, around, orintegrated with a crib, bassinet, swaddle device, chair, or otherdevices

In some embodiments, collecting infant data in step 12 includescollecting a larger set of infant data that includes a subset of infantdata related to breathing of the infant. For example, collecting infantdata may include collecting motion data associated with motion unrelatedto breathing such as non-breathing related infant movement,heartbeat/heartrate, and/or other motion occurring within a surroundingenvironment of the infant, e.g., movement related to a moving platform,garments, mobile, bed clothes, curtains, caregivers, etc. As another orfurther example, collecting infant data may include collecting sounddata that includes sounds unrelated to infant breathing such asnon-breathing related infant sounds, e.g., crying, speaking, laughing,or environmental sounds, e.g., music, talking, sounds resulting frominfant or caregiver contact with environment, machinery or devicenoises, or other ambient noises. In some such embodiments, collectinginfant data includes collecting multiple sets of data that each includea subset of infant breathing related data.

In step 14 of process 10, the collected infant data may be filtered toremove non-breathing related data and/or analyzed to identify a signalrelated to infant breathing. In an embodiment wherein collected infantdata includes non-breathing related data, the collected infant data maybe analyzed and filtered to remove non-infant breathing related data forfurther filtering and/or analysis of the collected infant breathingrelated data. For example, further to the above, portions of thecollected data corresponding to non-breathing related movements of theinfant may be filtered out of the collected infant breathing data, suchas movement of a sleep surface, shifting of the infant during sleep,movement of fabrics or other items such as stuffed animals or acaregiver's hand near the infant, etc. to isolate the breathing relateddata.

In some embodiments, step 14 may also include processing and/orconverting the collected infant data, which may include infant breathingrelated data filtered from non-breathing related data or both, into afrequency domain. In one example, a frequency domain may be utilized aspart of a filtering; analysis for separation, identification, orisolation of infant breathing related data. As described in more detailherein, infant data may be collected via a sensor device comprising oneor more sensors. The sensor device may include one or more sensors, suchas one or more motion and/or sound sensors. It will be appreciated thatthe sensor device may include various sensors that may or may notassociate or communicate with each other. For example, the sensor devicemay include multiple separate sensors that collect data independent ofeach other. Thus, the sensor device may include multiple separatesensors or sensor devices that collect infant data. In an embodiment,the sensor device includes a motion sensor comprising a video sensor.The video sensor may collect a video signal from which motion may beanalyzed. For example, a video signal of the infant's breathing may beanalyzed by a processing algorithm to detect a rate of breathing, andwhich may output data comprising a frequency of respiration, such as inHertz. The frequency may be an averaged value or may be updated on acontinuous basis or on a desired interval basis.

In some embodiments, analysis and/or filtering at step 14, may includeconversion to a frequency domain utilizing raw sensor data beforefiltering. In such an embodiment, one or more frequencies may beidentified by a data processor in a particular set of collected sensordata of the collected infant data. A data processor, which may include aplurality of local or distributed data processors, may be local orremote with respect to the infant, device in which the infant ismonitored, and/or the surrounding environment in which the infant ismonitored. For example, the data processor may comprise a remoteresource, such as an application running on a remote servers) or a cloudresource that receives sensor data for further processing. In anembodiment, a data processor may convert incoming sensor data into aplurality of frequency signals. The plurality of frequency signals maythen undergo a filtering process to isolate a frequency signal relatedto an infant's breathing. In an embodiment, identified frequency signalsabove 10 Hz may be filtered out. In an embodiment, a known or inferredfrequency signal attributable to a moveable infant-supporting sleepplatform may be filtered out of the plurality of identified frequencies.In embodiments, other frequency signals determined to be unrelated toinfant breathing may be filtered out of the frequency domain data.

At step 16 of process 10, the collected breathing related data may beutilized to generate an individualized infant breathing profile fromwhich abnormal breathing or patterns thereof may be subsequentlyanalyzed. The infant breathing profile may be generated from thefiltered infant data including the infant breathing related data. In anembodiment, the frequency of breathing and patterns thereof, which mayinclude the frequency domain data, may be used to generate the infantbreathing profile. The infant breathing profile may be individualized toan infant by performing step 12 with the infant breathing related data.The profile may be static or dynamic, e.g., updated over time based onadditional infant breathing related data or input characteristics. Asbreathing patterns, e.g., frequency and/or amplitude, may be variableboth within a set period of time as well as over time, step 16 mayinclude updating the profile based on further infant data Obtained instep 14. In one example, a frequency signal may be analyzed forvariation as more infant data is collected in step 14 and a variablebreathing pattern may be established with respect to the variationanalysis. Thus a frequency signal corresponding to an infant's breathingmay not comprise a single frequency, but may comprise a range offrequencies, or may comprise an approximate frequency with allowance forvariability within a determined tolerance, or may periodically orconsistently update to a new adapted value as more infant breathingrelated data is collected and analyzed in steps 14 and 16. In this way,step 16 may establish an individualized infant breathing profile, whichmay be unique for a given infant, and which takes into account naturalvariation in breathing over time. In at least one embodiment, breathingrelated data is additionally or alternatively analyzed and filtered withrespect to amplitude of breathing to identify patterns with respect todepth of breathing, e.g., duration or depth of inhalation and/orexhalation, in a manner similar to that described herein with respect tofrequency. In one example, the process may include generating an infantbreathing profile that includes amplitude patterns together with orseparate of frequency patterns.

FIG. 1B illustrates a process 1100 for detecting and monitoring infantbreathing and responding to abnormal or interrupted breathing accordingto various embodiments. In some embodiments, systems or devices, such asbreath detection systems described herein, may be configured to executeprocess 1100. At step 1102 infant data related to the breathing of aninfant is collected or otherwise obtained. Collecting infant data withrespect to step 1102 may be similar to that described with respect tostep 12 of process 10 shown in FIG. 1A. In one example, collectinginfant data 1102 includes collecting motion data related to infantbreathing. In one example, collecting infant data. 1102 includescollecting sound data related to infant breathing. In one example,collecting infant data 1102 includes collecting sound data and motiondata related to infant breathing.

In step 1104 of process 1100, the collected infant breathing relateddata is filtered and/or analyzed to identify a signal related to theinfant's breathing. In an embodiment, the collected infant data may befiltered to remove non-infant breath related data as described abovewith respect to step 14 of process 10 (FIG. 1A). For example, portionsof the collected infant data that correspond to movement and/or soundthat is not related to infant breathing may be filtered out of thecollected breathing related data, such as movement or sound related tomovement of a sleep surface, shifting of the infant during sleep,movement of fabrics or other items such as stuffed animals or acaregiver's hand near the infant.

Additionally, in step 1104, the collected infant data may be processedand/or converted into a frequency domain, which may be in a mannersimilar to that described above with respect to step 14 of process 10(FIG. 1A). In an embodiment, a sensor device may comprise a motionsensor. The motion sensor may include a video imaging sensor configuredto capture video images of the infant and provide a video signalcorresponding to or from which infant breathing related data may beobtained. In one example, a video signal of the infant's breathing maybe analyzed by a processing algorithm to detect a rate of breathing, andwhich may output data comprising a frequency of respiration, such as inHertz. The frequency may be an averaged value or may be updated on acontinuous basis or on a desired interval basis. As introduced above anddescribed in more detail below, the sensor device may comprise one ormore sound sensors in addition to or instead of one or more motionsensors. Other types of sensor may also be used.

In one embodiment, conversion to a frequency domain under step 1104 maybe performed on raw sensor data before filtering. In such an embodiment,one or more frequencies may be identified by a data processor in aparticular set of collected sensor data. In an embodiment, a dataprocessor may convert incoming sensor data into a plurality of frequencysignals. The plurality of frequency signals may then undergo a filteringprocess to isolate a frequency signal related to an infant's breathing.In an embodiment, identified frequency signals above 10 Hz may befiltered out. In an embodiment, a known or inferred frequency signalattributable to a moveable infant-supporting sleep platform may befiltered out of the plurality of identified frequencies. In embodiments,other frequency signals determined to be unrelated to infant breathingmay be filtered out of the frequency domain data, which may correspondto breathing related data.

In an embodiment, step 1104 may further comprise accounting for anirregularity in breathing over time. A frequency signal may be analyzedfor variation as more data is collected, and a variable breathingpattern may be established. Thus, a frequency signal corresponding to aninfant's breathing may not comprise a single frequency, but may comprisea range of frequencies, or may comprise an approximate frequency withallowance for variability within a determined tolerance, or mayperiodically or consistently update to a new adapted value as morebreathing related data is collected and analyzed. In this way, step 1104may establish an infant breathing profile, which may be unique, e.g.,individualized, for a given infant, and which takes into account naturalvariation in breathing over time, which may be similar to that describedwith respect to process 10. Thus, collected breathing related data maybe utilized to generate an individualized infant breathing profile fromwhich abnormal breathing or patterns thereof may be subsequently bedetermined In some embodiments, process 10 runs behind process 1100 orprocess 1100 incorporates process 10. The infant breathing profile maybe established utilizing process 10, described above with respect toFIG. In various embodiments, a general infant breathing profile typicalto an infant may be used rather than an individualized profile, such asdescribed herein and with respect to FIG. 1A. In some embodiments,multiple general infant breathing profiles may be used or available forselection by the system. In one example, the selection of a generalinfant breathing profile may correspond, at least in part, to an infantage, while other profiles may be age neutral. In some examples,selection variables that may be used to specify a general infantbreathing profile may include as one or more of sex of infant, age ofinfant, time of day, duration of sleep, medical data such as gestationalage at birth or known medical conditions, or other variables. In oneembodiment, process 1100 generates an individualized breathing profilefrom an initial general profile by incorporation of collected breathingrelated data into the profile.

In step 1106 of process 1100, the frequency signal corresponding to theinfant breathing may be monitored to detect for an interruption,abnormality, or stoppage in the signal. In an embodiment, step 1106 maydetermine if the interruption of a breathing signal corresponds to anactual stoppage of the infant's breathing. For example, in the eventthat an interruption in a breathing signal has been detected, step 1106,in an embodiment, may determine whether the interruption is due to theinfant being removed from a sleeping surface by a caregiver, if theinfant has moved out of the range or boundary of a data collectionsensor(s), or if some physical object is obstructing the ability of thesensor device to collect breathing related data. Such events may bedetected by identifying a radical change in observed frequencies. Aradical change may be identified based on an amount of increase ordecrease in frequency and may represent a predefined thresholdtriggering a trigger event. In one example, the amount may be determinedover a period of time prior to variability and a period of time duringvariability. The amount may be a percentage or whole number, forexample. In some embodiments, a measured change in frequency determinedto be a radical change may be based on a predetermined variation infrequency, a general or individualized infant breathing profile, orcombination thereof. In various embodiments, step 1106 may additionallycomprise monitoring for an abnormality in collected breathing relateddata. An abnormality may comprise a sudden or gradual deviation of aninfant's breathing from an infant breathing profile. Such a deviationmay be indicative of the infant experiencing trouble breathing, possiblydue to an airway obstruction or from having moved into a compromisingorientation while sleeping. Furthermore, an abnormality in a breathingrelated signal may comprise a prolonged elevated frequency of breathing,which may correspond to a distressed state which may be detected in step1106. In addition, if an abnormality in breathing frequency has beendetected, step 1106 may comprise monitoring the abnormality for a givenperiod of time, either predetermined or based on an infant's uniquebreathing profile.

In some embodiments, an infant breathing profile may be established,which may be on-going, in step 1104 and 1106, concurrent with monitoringfor abnormalities in breathing monitored patterns. For example, ageneral infant breathing profile may comprise an initial infantbreathing profile that may be used for a pre-determined period of timeor otherwise until a sufficient individualized infant breathing profileis generated. In some embodiments, a breath detection system may buildon or modify an initial infant breathing profile utilizing the breathingrelated data to generate an individualized infant breathing profile ormay replace the initial infant breathing profile with an individualizedinfant breathing profile generated from analysis of collected breathingrelated data applied to an infant breathing profile template. An infantbreathing profile may include a set of predefined threshold triggerevents that represent deviations for normal infant breathing. When atrigger event is detected, action may be taken as described below withrespect to step 1108. Some infants under normal breathing may takeshorter or longer pauses between breaths than others. Thus, in anembodiment, step 1106 may include monitoring and accounting for learnedor programmed infant behaviors to sort between actual breathingabnormalities and normal, characteristic behaviors, which may berepresented in the breathing profile of the infant. As more infant datais collected and analyzed, breathing patterns specific to the infant maybe used to modify the infant breathing profile and/or allow deviationfrom or modification of one or more trigger event threshold settingsthereof. For example, a threshold for a trigger event may be increasedor decreased based on collected breathing related data. Thus, overtime,infant breathing profiles may individualize and/or change and adapt tothe infant. Such changes may include modification of thresholds withrespect to trigger events or removal of trigger events. Individualizedinfant breathing profiles, for example, may include trigger eventshaving thresholds based on the individualized infant breathing profilegenerated from the infant breathing related data.

If an interruption or prolonged abnormality of a breathing relatedsignal is determined to have occurred, and step 1106 further determinesthat the interruption of the signal corresponds to an actual stoppage orinterruption in an infant's breathing profile, an appropriate responsiveaction is performed. As noted above, the determination may be based onanalysis, e.g., comparative analysis, of collected infant data or dataderived therefrom, e.g., raw or filtered infant motion data, infantsound data, breathing related data, frequency domain data, orcombination thereof, with respect to the infant breathing profile,whether individualized or general, including measured deviations fromthe profile. For example, time between one or a predetermined number ofbreaths or within a time period may be measured and compared to theinfant breathing profile. Deviations from the profile may be compared tothreshold settings to determine if a trigger event has occurredrequiring action at step 1108. The determination may be based on apercentage deviation between breaths or frequency of breaths, apredefined time period between one or more breaths, or a frequencypattern having breathing intervals otherwise found to be sufficientlyabnormal to represent a trigger event. In an embodiment, step 1108 maycomprise sending an alert to a caregiver or to an emergency servicesprovider. In some embodiments, the alert may comprise a text message,SMS, push notification, etc. In one embodiment, the process mayintegrate with and/or communicate with health care/hospital monitoringsystems. For example, the system may provide raw or processed data,notifications, and/or alerts to third party systems. The system may alsointegrate with third party systems. In an embodiment, step 1108 mayfurther comprise sending a signal to a moveable infant sleep platform toactivate a stimulating mode of operation intended to wake the infant andresume normal breathing.

In one embodiment, the breath detection system may be configured todetect heartbeat and/or heartrate of an infant, generally referred toheartbeat herein, which may be separate or in addition to detection ofbreathing. One or more sensors may collect infant data comprising motionor sound, such as vibration. The infant data collected with respect toheartbeat detection may include the same or different motion and/orsound data used for breathing detection. In various embodiments, theheartbeat related data comprises motion and/or sound data detected byone or more sensors. The infant data may be analyzed to identifyheartbeat patterns such as heartrate, heartbeat, and patterns thereof.Heartbeat patterns may be compared to heartbeat profiles to identifyabnormal deviations from a heartbeat profile. In some embodiments,heartbeat profiles may be individualized to a particular infant,generic, or may be selected based on characteristics of an infant, whichmay be input by a user or detected and/or measured by a breath detectionsystem. In one example, a breath detection system may include multiplebeat profiles that may be selected by the system based on an input age,weight, e.g., birth weight or current weight, sex, medical condition, orother data associated with the infant. In an embodiment, a breathdetection system may individualize a heartbeat profile from a generic orselected beat profile during an infant's use of the system. For example,the system may measure and analyze heartbeat patterns and update a beatprofile to individualize an initial heartbeat profile. Upondetermination of abnormal heartbeat has occurred, which may includecessation of heartbeat, the breath detection system may be configured togenerate a response signal. The response signal may initiate an alarm orcall to a caregiver, a sound, motion of a movement platform of abassinet, or other action.

A process of heartbeat detection may be similar to that described abovewith respect to breathing detection in FIG. 1A wherein infant data iscollected, filtered to identify heartbeat related data, and analyzed togenerate a heartbeat profile. Heartbeat detection may include collectionand analysis of infant data for determination and response to abnormalheartbeat rate in a manner similar to that described with respect tobreathing detection in FIG. 1B.

As introduced above, in certain embodiments for detecting an infant'sbreathing disclosed herein, such as collecting infant data in step 12 ofprocess 10 and step 1102 of process 1100, a sensing device is providedin order to collect infant data related to infant breathing. As alsonoted above, the infant data may include non-breathing related data,which, in various embodiments, may be filtered to identify or isolatethe breathing related data. The sensing device may be provided in orderto collect infant data related to heartbeat. Infant data related toheartbeat may be collected by the same and/or different sensors providedto collect breathing related data. The infant data may includenon-heartbeat related data, which, in various embodiments, may befiltered to identify or isolate the heartbeat related data.

In embodiments disclosed herein, various methods and devices aredisclosed for collecting infant data. In one embodiment, the sensingdevice may comprise one or more sound sensors. A sound sensor maycomprise one or more microphones or other device for detecting soundvibrations, such as a piezoelectric sensor. A sound sensor may bepositioned at one or more appropriate locations relative to and withinan appropriate distance from an infant. Sound sensors may be located onor around an infant sleep device such as a crib or bassinet. In oneexample, one or more sound sensors may be placed underneath the back ofthe infant. Sound sensors may be embedded in a mat, mattress, infantgarment, or sleep sack. For example, one or more sound sensors may belocated underneath the back of the infant and embedded in a mat,mattress, infant garment, or sleep sack.

In various embodiments, the sensing device comprises one or more motionsensors configured to collect motion data. In some embodiments, one ormore motion sensors comprise one or more optical, imaging, and/orlight/electromagnetic wave or field sensors. For example, a motionsensor may include one or more motion sensors utilizing radar, laser, orvideo imaging, motion sensors. Thus, some motion sensors may includeelectromagnetic wave transmitters in addition to electromagnetic wavereceivers or detect apparatus. In one embodiment, the sensing devicecomprises a motion sensor comprising a capacitance sensor. In any of theabove or another embodiment, the sensing device may include a motionsensor configured to detect vibrations, force, pressure, strain,acceleration, angular velocity, or combination thereof. For example, amotion sensor may comprise one or more of an accelerometer, gyroscope,or piezoelectric sensor. Sound sensors may detect sound or vibrationsassociated with infant breathing. In one embodiment, a motion sensorcomprises a sound sensor configured to detect motion, such as a sensorconfigured to detect movement utilizing echolocation. In someembodiments, a motion sensor comprises a proximity sensor utilized tomeasure motion by changes in proximity over time. Example proximitysensors may include combination transmitters and receivers, soundsensors, electromagnetic sensors, capacitance sensors, or combinationsthereof.

In an embodiment, the sensing device comprises a motion and/or soundsensor. In one example, the sensing device comprises sensors fordetecting vibrations. One or more sensors of the sensing device may bepositioned underneath an infant, such as above or below a mattress orpad. In some embodiments, sensors may be integrated with a mattress orpad. In one embodiment, sensors may be integrated with a platformstructure upon which an infant is to be placed. The motion or vibrationdata may comprise measurements of relative movement of the infant'sback.

In an embodiment, the sensing device may comprise a sound sensor, suchas one or more microphones or piezoelectric sensors. Sound sensors maydetect audio waves or propagation of vibrations, pressure changes, orwaves through a medium. The breathing and/or heartrate information maybe measured in the audible spectrum.

In various embodiments, the sensing device comprises or is configured tocommunicate, e.g., transmit sensed data, with a processor coupled with astorage medium storing instructions executable by the processor toanalyze the detected or measured data obtained by the sensing device. Asnoted above, the processor or plurality of processors may be local,remote, and/or distributed with respect to the infant, device in whichthe infant is monitored, and/or the surrounding environment in which theinfant is monitored. Thus, the sensing device, or one or more sensorsthereof, may include a transmitter, receiver, or transceiver configuredfor communication with the processor. The processor may operativelycouple to a transmitter, receiver, or transceiver configured forcommunication with the sensing device. Communication may be by wired orwireless communication protocols. It will be appreciated that thesensing device may include multiple types of sensors. For example,multiple types of sensors may be used to collect breathing related datawherein their outputs are compared or utilized together to determine abreathing status and/or profile of the infant. Same or different sensorsmay be used to collect heartbeat related data wherein their outputs arecompared or utilized together to determine a heartbeat status and/orprofile of the infant.

As introduced above, the sensing device may include one or more motionsensors. The one or more motion sensors may be configured to measurerelative motion of a chest of an infant and/or stomach area in variablesleep positions with good resolutions. The relative movement of thechest and/or stomach area may be defined as relative motion of a bodypart of the infant with respect to a reference point. The body part maycomprise the chest, stomach, or other such body part of which movementmay be indicative of breathing. The reference point may include one ormore fixed reference points, such as one or more points associated withportions of an infant, such as a back of the infant, a mattress of abassinet where an infant is positioned, a platform on which the infantis placed, a garment worn by an infant, or location around the infant.Alternatively or additionally, a reference point may include one or moremoving reference points. For example, the infant may be positioned on amoving platform, e.g., in a moving bassinet. A moving reference pointmay move in a manner coinciding with overall motion of the infant.Relative movement may be measured relative to one or more fixedreference points, moving reference points, or combination thereof. Invarious embodiments, movement relative to a reference point notattributable to movement of the chest and/or stomach area of the infantassociated with breathing may be filtered. For example, motion datacomprising measured relative motion with respect to one or morereference points may be processed to isolate breathing related data froma broader set of the motion data that includes non-breathing data.Motion data may also include vibration data or motion data related toheartbeat that may be filtered to identify heartbeat related data.

In various embodiments, the one or more motion sensors are configured toindependently or in one or more combinations detect relative movement toa resolution of at least 1 mm of relative motion resolution. As notedabove, analysis of the data to achieve the desired resolution may beperformed by a processor utilizing computer readable instructions suchas software, firmware, or the like. In an embodiment, 1 mm of relativemotion resolution means that a sensing device may be able to detectdifferences in relative or absolute position of objects, including theinfant's chest or stomach area, which are at least 1 mm in magnitude.Other embodiments may be able to detect positional differences less than1 mm in magnitude.

In one embodiment, the sensing device comprises one or more motionsensors comprising one or more video imaging sensors. Video imagingsensors may include or incorporate one or more infant imaging camerasfor detecting motion within desired resolutions, e.g., at least 1 mm. Avideo imaging sensor may include or communicate with a processor and/orstorage medium storing instructions executable by the processor fordetection of motion from images obtained by the sensor. In someembodiments, a video imaging sensor includes one or more camerasconfigured to detect wavelengths within and/or outside the visiblespectrum, such as infrared wavelengths. The one or more motion sensorsmay be disposed in an appropriate location relative to and within anappropriate distance from the infant such that it is able to captureimages of an infant with sufficient resolution when the infant is insidea bassinet or other sleeping surface. Some embodiments may include oneor more infant imaging cameras disposed around a bassinet, e.g., aboveand/or along one or more sides, and oriented to image an infant layingwithin the bassinet. Furthermore, infant imaging cameras may bestandard/visible light, infrared, or otherwise such that they are ableto capture images of an infant in variable lighting conditions.

In an embodiment, the sensor device comprises one or more motion sensorscomprising one or more radar devices, which may also be referred to asradar sensors. Radar devices may include or communicate with a processorand/or storage medium storing instructions executable by the processorfor detection of motion from radio or other electromagnetic wavescollected by the sensor. In an example, a radar device may be placedapproximately within an underside of an infant supporting platform andoriented such that it is able to capture the relative motion of aninfant's chest and/or stomach area when the infant is inside a bassinetincluding a supporting platform. Some embodiments may have one or moreradar motion sensors disposed around the sides of a bassinet or directlyabove a bassinet and oriented to measure relative motion of infant'schest and/or stomach area. Radar devices may include or detect one ormore markers, which may comprise reference points in some embodiments.For example, a marker may be associated with a front of a chest orstomach area of the infant. In a further example, a second marker may beassociated with a back of the infant. In one example, a third or asecond marker may be associated with another location that moves withthe infant, such as a moving platform, from which overall movement ofthe infant relative to an observational reference frame may besubtracted. In some embodiments, a receiver of a radar sensor may bepositioned for movement corresponding to that of the infant in theobservational reference frame. For example, the receiver may bepositioned on a moving platform upon which the infant is positioned andsubject to movement. Markers may similarly be utilized with other motionsensors, such as video imaging sensors.

In one embodiment, the sensing device comprises one or more motionsensors comprising one or more piezoelectric sensors. Piezoelectricsensors may be configured to detect pressure, force, or accelerationchanges, which may include vibrations. Piezoelectric sensors may detectpropagation of sound waves through solid or gas resulting sensorvibrations transduced to a heartbeat detection module and/or breathingdetection module. Piezoelectric sensors may include or communicate witha processor and/or storage medium storing analysis instructionsexecutable by the processor for analysis of current generated by thesensor. In one example, a piezoelectric sensor comprises one or morepiezoelectric strip sensors. Strip sensors may be suspended in someimplementations. The strip sensors may be suspended to isolate thesensors from motion of a movable platform. A piezoelectric sensor may bepositioned at an appropriate location relative to and within anappropriate distance from the infant to detect motion of the infant,such as vertical motion or other directional motion and/or an associatedpressure, force, or vibration. In one example, multiple strip sensorsmay be used at various locations. In an embodiment, a piezoelectricsensor, such as a strip sensor, may be positioned under a back or otherlocation along the hack of the infant when the infant is located on aplatform. For example, the sensor may be embedded in a mat, mattress,infant garment, sleep sack, or attached to a movement platform uponwhich the infant is placed. The infant may be positioned relativelyhorizontal with respect to a gravitational vector. In some embodiments,the infant may be positioned at angles to the horizontal such as in aninclined or declined position.

As introduced above, markers or tracking elements may be utilized in thecollection of the infant data, including breathing related data. Forexample, an infant may be placed in a garment or sleep sack comprisingone or more markers that a motion sensing device such as an optical orelectromagnetic sensor, e.g., a radar device or video imaging sensor, orcapacitance sensor may track, which may provide for increasedresolution, sensitivity, and stability in the collected breathingrelated data. In one embodiment, a marker comprises an active markerthat transmits a signal wherein a receiver receives the signal anddetermines proximity over time to identify motion. In anotherembodiment, markings or other features may be incorporated elsewhere ina region of data collection, such as on a sleep surface of a bassinet,and may be configured to differentiate between the body parts of theinfant and the underlying or surrounding surfaces.

In an embodiment, a breath detection system may be configured tocooperate with a sleep sack of a bassinet. For example, the breathdetection system may be configured to cooperate with a sleep sacksimilar to those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/448,679, filed Apr. 31, 2014, and U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/055,077, filed Feb. 26, 2016, or PCT/US2017/057055, filed Oct. 17,2017, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Thesleep sack may be a device operable to swaddle an infant and enable theinfant to be secured in a fixed position within the bassinet. Having theinfant secured in a fixed position within the bassinet ensures that thesensing device may accurately address the infant and provide accuratemotion data of the infant. The constant placement of the infant withinthe bassinet allows for less variability of relevant features, such asthe location of pixels corresponding to an infant's chest, within imagesthat may be captured by imaging sensors comprising infant imagingcameras. Securing an infant in a fixed position within the bassinet mayallow a processing module to more easily and confidently determine aninfant's breathing and/or heartbeat condition. Furthermore, thepreviously mentioned markers or tracking elements configured to assistin data collection may be incorporated on or in said sleep sack.

FIG. 1C schematically illustrates an embodiment of a breath detectionsystem 1 according to various embodiments. The breath detection system 1may be configured to execute all or a combination of the steps ofprocess 10, process 1100, or both.

The breath detection system 1 comprises or is configured to operativelycouple to the outputs of one or more sensing devices 2 for collectinginfant data. The sensing device 2 may include the features andoperations described above and elsewhere herein with respect to sensingdevices. The sensing device 2 may comprise a motion sensor 22 comprisinga video imaging sensor 21 and/or other motion sensor 22. Infant datacaptured by the sensing device 2 may be sent to a breath detectionmodule 3 by wired or wireless electrical signal (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,cellular, etc.).

The breath detection module 3 may include a receiver to receive infantdata from the sensor device 2. In some embodiments, the breath detectionmodule 3 includes a transmitter or transceiver to transmit signals tothe sensor device 2 or to output a signal to a response device, whichmay be configured to sound an alarm, transmit a call, text, email, ormessage to a caregiver, or control movement of a moving platform of abassinet, or undertake another action. The breath detection module 3 mayfurther comprise a filter module 31, a frequency conversion module 32, adata analysis module 33 and a data process module 34. In variousembodiments, the breath detection module 3 comprises a heartbeatdetection module configured to handle infant data with respect toheartbeat detection (filter, conversion, analysis, processing, signalgeneration, etc.) in a manner similar to that described with respect tobreathing detection.

The breath detection system 1 and/or the breath detection module 3thereof may be embodied in one or more computing systems that may beembedded on one or more integrated circuits or other computing hardwareoperable to perform the necessary functions of the breath detectionsystem 1 and/or breath detection module 3. In some embodiments, thebreath detection system 1 and/or the breath detection module 3 thereofis integrated with a bassinet having a moving platform. For example, thebreath detection system 1 and/or the breath detection module 3 thereofmay be integrated with or be configured for communication with a controlsystem operable to control operations of the moving platform and/orother features of the bassinet. In one example, the breath detectionsystem 1 and/or the breath detection module 3 thereof comprises a remotedevice with respect to the bassinet and may communicate with thebassinet or control system thereof via a wireless or wired communicationlink. In another example, the breath detection system 1 and/or thebreath detection module 3 thereof does not communicate with a controlsystem of the bassinet. In one embodiment, the breath detection system 1and/or the breath detection module 3 thereof comprises a portable systemallowing a user to position the system with respect to an infant tocollect infant data and monitor the same. For example, one or moresensor modules may be provided that the user positions around the infantto collect infant data. The breath detection module 3 may then bepositioned to receive the collected infant data as input and used asdescribed herein to monitor breathing of the infant.

The breath detection module 3 may be configured to receive collectedinfant data from the sensing device 2, which may include one or moresensors as described above, as input and generate an output signal whenabnormal or interrupted infant breathing has been detected. The inputinfant data may include images captured by the one or more video/imagingsensors, electromagnetic wave data obtained by one or more motionsensors, or sound/motion/vibration sensor output data. In someembodiments, the breath detection module 3 may output statisticsregarding infant breathing that may be sent and/or presented to acaregiver and/or medical professional. The statistics may provideinformation related to sleep parameters and/or patterns, infantenvironment, quality and/or duration of sleep, and/or breathing and/orheartbeat patterns such as frequency and/or variabilities. In oneembodiment, output may include images and/or sound recordings of theinfant that may be sent and/or presented to a caregiver.

The filter module 31 may be configured to filter out non-breathingrelated data from the infant data, such as non-breathing related motiondata, obtained from the sensing device 2. For example, the non-breathingrelated motion data may arise from the movements of the bassinet, aroll-over movement of the infant, the movement of fabrics around theinfant, or any other motion data arising from movement other than thebreath of an infant. In some embodiments, filter module 31 may beconfigured to filter out non-heartbeat related data from the infantdata, such as non-heartbeat related motion data, sound, or vibrationdata obtained from the sensing device 2.

The frequency conversion module 32 may be configured to convert filteredinfant data for analysis and/or modeling. For example, filtered infantdata may be sent to the frequency conversion module 32 for conversion ofthe filtered data to a frequency domain associated with infantbreathing. In general, this frequency will typically be below 10 Hz. Thesame or different filtered infant data may be sent to the frequencyconversion module 32 for conversion of the filtered data to a frequencydomain associated with infant heartbeat.

The data analysis module 33 may be configured to receive the converteddata from the frequency conversion module 32 and to identify a profilewithin the frequency domain data corresponding to the infant's breathingrhythm and/or heartrate rhythm.

The data process module 34 may be configured to analyze the signature ofan infant from the analysis module 33. The data process module 34 may befurther configured to make decisions based on the breathing relateddata, which may include filtered, converted, and/or analyzed breathingrelated data. The data process module 34 may be configured to determineif the infant breathing has stopped by analyzing the signature. If thereis a loss of signature, the data process module 34 will determine if itarises from infant breathing stoppage or various non-emergencycircumstances, for example, when an infant has been taken out, or thereis a physical obstruction of the sensing device. Thus, if the infantbreathing has stopped, the breath detection module is further configuredto determine if the stoppage is abnormal or normal. The infant breathingprofile determined over time may comprise customized baseline data,which may further be utilized by the breath detection module to reducefalse positives, which are a false diagnosis of abnormal breathstoppage. If the stoppage is determined to be abnormal, e.g., sufficientto reach or exceed a threshold corresponding to a trigger event, thedata process module 34 may be configured to generate an output signal.The data process module 34 may be further configured to make decisionsbased on the heartbeat related data, which may include filtered,converted, and/or analyzed heartbeat related data. The data processmodule 34 may be configured to determine if the infant heartrate hasstopped or slowed by analyzing the signature. If there is a loss ofsignature, the data process module 34 will determine if it arises frominfant heartrate stoppage or threshold slowing or various non-emergencycircumstances, for example. Thus, if the infant heartbeat has stopped orreached a threshold slowing, the breath detection module is furtherconfigured to determine if the stoppage or slowing is abnormal ornormal. The infant heartbeat profile determined over time may comprisecustomized baseline data which may further be utilized by the breathdetection module to reduce false positives, which are a false diagnosisof abnormal heartbeat. If the stoppage or slowing is determined to beabnormal, e.g., sufficient to reach or exceed a threshold correspondingto a trigger event, the data process module 34 may be configured togenerate an output signal. An output signal with respect to breathingand/or heartbeat may preferably be an electrical signal or otherwise andbe sent to a sound control module, a motion control module, or to acommunication module. The sound control module, motion control module,or a communication control module may be associated with a bassinet. Forexample, the motion control module may move a platform having a motiveplatform, for example. Various other signal receiving modules mayfurther be configured to operate the moving platform. In one embodiment,the output signal may preferably be an electrical signal or similar andmay be sent to a motion or sound control module of the moving platform,such as a bassinet, or to a communication module of the bassinet, or tovarious other signal receiving modules and may further be configured tooperate the moving platform. Alternatively or additionally, the outputsignal may be configured to be received by an alert system, such that,for example, parents, paramedics, or anyone taking care of the infantcan be notified. For example, the signal may be transmitted according toa protocol compatible with a communication protocol of the alert system.In some embodiments, the alert system may comprise a cellular, internet,or network server, router, gateway, or other communication device, forexample. The alert system may be configured to provide alerts via textmessage, SMS, push notification, voice messaging, etc. In oneembodiment, the breathing detection system or alert system may integratewith and/or communicate with health care/hospital monitoring systems.For example, the system may provide raw or processed data,notifications, and/or alerts to third party systems. The system may alsointegrate with third party systems.

In an embodiment, a breath detection system 1 may operate with, beattach to, or be integrated with a bassinet. For example, the breathdetection system 1 may be integrated or utilized with a bassinet asdisclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/448,679, filed Apr. 31,2014, or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/055,077, filed Feb. 26,2016, or PCT/US2017/057055, filed Oct. 17, 2017, all of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference. In one example, the breath detectionsystem 1 may include a main body comprising a processing moduleincluding all or a portion of the breath detection module 3. The mainbody may be configured to be positioned above the bassinet and roughlycentered above an infant laying inside the bassinet. In one example, themain body further comprises one or more sensor devices 3. In anotherembodiment, a breath detection system 1 may be attached sparsely arounda bassinet such that it is able to capture the movement of an infantlaying inside the bassinet. In a further embodiment, the sensing device2 of the breath detection system 1 may be attached sparsely around abassinet such that it is able to capture sound of an infant layinginside the bassinet. In one embodiment, the system 1 may include aprocessing module that may be integrated with a bassinet or positionedto receive collected of infant data therefrom, which may include wiredor wireless communication with the sensor device 2 comprising one ormore sensors positioned around or within the bassinet. The processingmodule may be further configured to output a signal, such as acorrective action signal.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment 400 of a sleepsack 402 and an infant platform 404. The sleep sack 402 may beconfigured to attach to the sleep surface at wing element 406 so as tosecure the infant in a desired position, as well as in a desiredlocation, thereby allowing for a sensor to more accurately address theinfant on a consistent basis and collect higher quality infant-breathingdata. In an embodiment, the sleep sack 402 and/or the sleep platform 404may be equipped with markers or sensors, e.g., as described above,configured to mark or report their location to a sensing device or otherdata collection device. Thereby, a relative motion of the infant'schest, for example, can be identified relative to other movementspresent in the proximity, such as a movement of platform 404. Marker 408is configured to remain positioned above the infant's chest area, andwill move in an up and down motion relative to platform 404 as theinfant breathes. A sensor system (not shown) may then be configured totrack the motion of marker 408 in order to establish a breathingfrequency of the infant.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustration of an embodiment 1200 of abassinet. Bassinet 1200 may be configured to accommodate a sleepinginfant on sleep platform 1202. Sleep platform 1202 and bassinet 1200 maybe further configured to accommodate a breath detection system asdescribed herein. In an embodiment, platform 1202 may comprise a movingplatform connected to a controllable motor to drive a motion of theplatform 1202. Examples of which are described in more detail below withrespect to FIGS. 9-16 . In response to a signal from a processing modulesuch as breath detection module 3, the platform 1202 may be configuredto respond by vigorous shaking or other motion designed to stimulate aninfant and promote breathing when an abnormal breathing stoppage hasbeen determined to have occurred according to the principles disclosedherein.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view illustration of an embodiment 1250 of abassinet and sensor system. System 1250 comprises a bassinet 1252, asensing device 1254, and a breath detection system 1256. In theembodiment shown, an infant may be placed inside bassinet 1252, and maybe addressed by a sensors 1254, which in certain embodiments may be madeto look or function alternatively as a mobile. The sensor 1254 may beconfigured to effectively address the infant so that infant-breathrelated data may be collected and communicated to processing module1256, where the data is analyzed, monitored, and responded to accordingto the principles disclosed herein. Thus, sensor 1254 may be referred toas a breath sensor. In various embodiments, sensor 1254 comprises amicrophone configured to detect sounds from the infant corresponding tobreathing. In this or another embodiment, sensor 1254 comprises a videocamera configured to image the infant in the visual or infraredspectrum. In one example, the processing module 1256 may correlate videoimaging data with sound data to detect breathing. Processing module 1256in an embodiment may not only perform the analysis and algorithmsdisclosed herein, by may additionally control a sleep system comprisinga number of other functions and modules, such as infant cryingdetection, motion and sound sensing, control of a movable sleepplatform, behavior state detection, audio generation, as well as audio,motion, and status outputs, such as the system disclosed inPCT/US2017/057055 entitled “Infant Calming/Sleep-aid Device”, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and which is describedin part in FIG. 3 herein.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates operations and functional units of aprocessing system 1300 configured to interface with the sensor deviceand bassinet embodiments described herein, such that analysis,filtering, monitoring, detecting, and responding to breathing relateddata collected from one or more sensors in a breath detection system,such as breath detection system 1 described above with respect to FIG.1C, may be performed by a broader system such as system 1300 as part ofa subsystem thereof. Thus, the breath detection system 1 (FIG. 1C),process 10 (FIG. 1A), and/or process 1100 (FIG. 1B) described herein maybe executed as a subsystem of system 1300. System 1300 may also performother infant sleep functions such as infant crying detection, motion andsound sensing, control of a movable sleep platform, behavior statedetection, audio generation, as well as audio, motion, and/or statusoutput signals, for example. System 1300 may perform heartbeat detectionas described herein.

System 1300 may include an infant calming/sleep-aid device 2258comprising various control system related components including a controlsystem 2216 including a control processor for receiving and processinginputs 2200 and generating outputs 2246 and a communication facility2214. In some embodiments, system 1300 further includes a userinterface. It is to be appreciated that the control system 2216 mayinclude various components depending on implementation needs, includevarious combinations of a motor, driver, sensory circuit, andmicroprocessor. Components of the control system 2216 and the userinterface may be located on-board or remotely from theenclosure/platform portion of infant calming/sleep-aid device 2258.

Inputs 2200 may include data or control signals from a sensor device2002 comprising one or more sensors, as described above, includingvarious types of sensors or devices such as microphone or sound sensor2202, motion control sensor 2206, accelerometer or motion sensor 2208,user interface, biometric sensor 2260, and the like. In an embodiment,biometric sensor 2260 could be an accelerometer or other vibrationsensor, such as a piezoelectric sensor, and act to detect/measure thebreathing and/or heartbeat of an infant by measuring vibrations in amoving platform of the bassinet, a mat, mattress, infant garment, orsleep sack, for example. Sensing device 2002 may include the featuresand functionalities described above and elsewhere herein with respect tothe sensing device in process 10 (FIG. 1A), process 1100 (FIG. 1B), andbreath detection system 1 (FIG. 1C).

Outputs from the control system 2216 may be directed to modules ordevices thereof such as one or more speakers 2248 for controlling thegeneration of sound, motion controller 2250 for controlling the motionof a platform or structure on which the infant is placed, call toemergency services using communication connection module 2262, andstatus light facility 2252 for controlling illumination of variousstatus lights. Connection module 2262 may include a Wi-Fi connection,cellular, land line communication, or other communication connectionroute for transmitting message communications, e.g., calls, emails,alerts, text messages, posts, etc. For example, the connection module2262 may be configured to transmit signals and/or data communicationsaccording to a compatible communication protocol for routing themessage. In various embodiments, the message may be routed to an alertsystem, caregiver, user communication device, emergency services,hospital, or third party resource. Messages may be transmitted, forexample, as text messages, SMS, push notification, voice messaging, etc.In one embodiment, the system 1300 or connection module 2262 mayintegrate with and/or communicate with health care/hospital monitoringsystems. For example, the system 1300, via connection module 2262, mayprovide raw or processed data, notifications, and/or alerts to thirdparty systems. The system 1300 may also integrate with third partysystems.

Other inputs from the sensing device 2002 may also be provided by othersensors, which may include motion and/or sound sensors 2202, 2208, suchas optical sensors, including cameras, pressure sensors, sensors locatedin a swaddle or sleep sack, third party sensors, including monitors,sensors embedded in fabrics, and the like. Sensors embedded in fabricsmay be flexible sensors. Sensors may be used for detecting childphysiological parameters. Sensors may be used to provide inputs andfeedback for a mode selection with respect to sound and/or motion rangesfor a mechanism that activates the calming reflex of an infant or, incertain circumstances, increases a baby's arousal. Microphone or soundsensor 2202 may be in communication with a user interface. Motioncontrol sensor 2206 may be controlled by a user interface. Motioncontrol sensor 2206 may be in communication with motion generationmodule 2232. Motion control sensor 2206 may send desired system speedinput 2220 to motion generation module 2232.

Sensor device 2002 may send collected infant data to breath detectionmodule 2003. Breath detection module 2003 may include the features andfunctionalities described above and elsewhere herein with respect to thesensing device in process 10 (FIG. 1A), process 1100 (FIG. 1B), andbreath detection system 1 (FIG. 1C). For example, breath detectionmodule 2003 may filter and analyze the infant data. The collected infantdata may include non-breathing related data that may be filtered toisolate breathing related data. The collected infant data may includenon-heartbeat related data that may be filtered to isolate heartbeatrelated data. Filtering may include removal of motion and/or sound datacorresponding to movement of the platform or other non-breathing and/ornon-heartbeat related motion or sound. The breath detection module 2003may convert filtered breathing and/or heartbeat related data intofrequency domains. The breath detection module 2003 may generate,update, modify, and/or select infant breathing profiles. The breathdetection module 2003 may make decisions with respect to breathingpatterns and threshold events based on breathing related data and infantbreathing profiles. The breath detection module 2003 may generate,update, modify, and/or select infant heartbeat profiles. The breathdetection module 2003 may make decisions with respect to heartbeatpatterns and threshold events based on heartbeat related data and infantheartbeat profiles. In some instances, the breath detection module 2003may provide and output signal corresponding to corrective action 2246 asdescribed above. For example, the breath detection module 2003 mayutilize connection module 2262 to send an alert to a caregiver, anemergency services provider, hospital monitoring system, e.g., an alarm,message, SMS, push notification, email, text, phone call, etc. Thebreath detection module 2003 may utilize speaker 2248 to initiate analarm or alert. Breath detection module 2003 may send a signal to motioncontroller 2250 of the moveable infant sleep platform to activate astimulating mode of operation intended to wake the infant and resumenormal breathing and/or heartbeat. The breath detection module 2003 maysend a signal to status lights 2252 to initiate light alerts.

Microphone or sound sensor 2202 may send data to cry/state detectionmodule 2218. Accelerometer or motion sensor 2208 may send motion data tomotion analysis module 2222. Communication facility 2214 may be used toestablish communication between inputs 2200 and control system 2216.Communication may be established via direct control, remote control, andthe like. Direct control may include providing control inputs to thecommunication facility from input devices directly integrated with theinfant calming/sleep-aid device. Remote control may include providingcontrol inputs to the communication facility from input devices remotelyconnected to the infant calming/sleep-aid device. Remote connectivitymay include wired and wireless connectivity. Wireless connectivity mayinclude Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity, and the like.Journaling may include track feedings, track diapers, and the like.

Control system 2216 may include various modules. Modules may includecry/state detection module 2218, behavior state module 2230, audiogeneration module 2238, motion generation module 2232, motion analysismodule 2222, status light module 2234, and the like. In one embodiment,modules include a biometric detection module. Cry/state detection module2218 may be in communication with microphone or sound sensor 2202,motion control sensor 2206, behavior state module 2230, and the like.Cry/state detection module 2218 may send an infant crying/not cryingstatus input, along with a quantification of a crying episode tobehavior state module 2230. Biometric detection module may be incommunication with motion generation module 2232, audio generationmodule 2238, and the like. Biometric detection module may send desiredmotion state input 2260 to motion generation module 2232, desired audiotrack, desired volume/equalizer settings input 2236 to audio generationmodule 2238, and the like. Behavior state module 2230 may be incommunication with crying detection module 2218, motion generationmodule 2232, audio generation module 2238, and the like. Behavior statemodule may send desired motion state input 2260 to motion generationmodule 2232, desired audio track, desired volume/equalizer settingsinput 2236 to audio generation module 2238, and the like. Motiongeneration module 2232 may be in communication with behavior statemodule 2230, motion control sensor 2206, user interface 2201, motionanalysis module 2222, motion controller 2250, and the like. Motionanalysis module 2222 may be in communication with accelerometer ormotion sensor 2203, user interface 2201, motion generation module 2232,status light module 2234, and the like. Motion analysis module 222 maysend motion frequency/amplitude and motion is safe/is not safe input2226 to motion generation module 2232. Motion analysis module 2222 maysend motion is safe/not safe input and motion is soothing/is notsoothing input 2228 to status light module 2234. Motion generationmodule may send target motor positions/speeds input to motion controller2250 and the like. Audio generation module 2238 may be in communicationwith behavior state module 2230, one or more speakers 2248, and thelike. Audio generation module 2238 may send audio generation moduleinput to one or more speakers 2248. Status light module 2234 may be incommunication with motion analysis module 2222 status lights colordisplay facility 2252 and the like. Status light module 2234 may sendtarget status light colors input to status lights color display facility2252 and the like.

Control system 2216 may also be in communication with data storagefacility 2254, rules engine 2256, and the like. Data storage facility2254 may store information that may be accessed by other modules of thecontrol system 2216, and the like. Rules engine 2256 may provide rulesfor inputs and triggers to a mechanism to activate the “calming reflex”of an infant.

A user interface may be in communication with inputs such as microphoneor sound sensors 2202, cry/state detection module 2218, motion analysismodule 2222, accelerometer or motion sensor 2208, and the like. Theinterface may allow a user to input data such as date of birth of aninfant, gestation age at birth, conditions, due date of an infant, nameor an identifier for the infant, sex, weight of the infant, and thelike. Weight of the infant may be input manually or automatically. Theweight of the infant may be input automatically from a scale that isintegrated with the infant calming/sleep-aid device 2258. The inputs maybe used to select or identify a suitable infant breathing profile and/orheartbeat profile. Additional inputs may include information inputs.Information inputs may include baby weights, baby lengths, babycircumferences, frequencies, travel, immunizations, illness, heart rate,respiratory rate, blood oxygenation, and the like. Baby weights mayinclude weight at birth, baby weights at different weightings, and thelike. Baby length may include baby length at birth, baby length atdifferent measuring's, and the like. Baby circumference may include babycircumference of the head at birth, baby circumference of the head atdifferent measuring's, and the like. The user interface may be used toboost baseline stimulation by providing more motion and sound. The userinterface may be an integral part of the infant calming/sleep-aiddevice, or a separate piece, such as on a mobile peripheral device,which may be connected by a wired connection, a wireless connection, andthe like to the infant calming/sleep aid device. The wireless connectionmay be a Wi-Fi connection, Bluetooth connection, and the like. The userinterface may have controls, set-up information input, and other inputdata that can be sent to the control system of the device. Controls mayinclude an on/off control, sound control, motion control, light control,and the like. Controls may be enabled or disabled.

In some embodiments, a user interface may be provided as a mobileapplication. The mobile application may provide data inputs to thecontrol mechanism of the infant calming/sleep aid device 2258. Data mayinclude monitoring data, feedback data, control data, reporting data,analytics data, statistics, and the like. The mobile application may beinstalled on a mobile device. The device may be a smartphone, tabletcomputer, and the like. The mobile device may have an operating systemthat may be iOS, Android, and the like. The mobile application mayenable interactions with the device. Interactions may be enabled througha communication interface. The communication interface may be auniversal serial bus (USB) interface, Wi-Fi interface, Bluetoothinterface, and the like. Interactions may be control interactions.Control interactions may be similar to the interactions that may beenabled directly from the infant calming/sleep aid device 2258, onlyavailable on the mobile application, and the like.

Other mobile device interactions may include reports and statistics,sharing and group interactions, benchmarking and comparisoninteractions, graphic interactions, acoustic signature of a cryinteractions, data upload to a third party interactions, feedback from asubject matter expert interactions, warning alert interactions, overtonecustomization of white noise interactions, other input interactions,journal sharing/printout interactions, weight interactions,breastfeeding interactions, camera interactions, and the like. Otherinput interactions may include photo input interactions, video inputinteractions, audio input interactions, and the like.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an example buffer 500 for use by abreath detection module with respect to detection of intermittentbreathing and breath per minute analysis according to variousembodiments. The buffer 500 may be utilized by a breath detection moduleemploying a sensor device as described herein. For example, the breathdetection module may utilize a piezo approach using a signal from asensor device comprising a piezo sensor that is placed such that whenthe baby is breathing the sensor is pressed and thus generates a signal.In one example, the sensor may be placed under a mattress. The generatedsignal may then be filtered and analyzed. In one embodiment, filteringmay include amplification and/or conversion. For example, the signal maypropagate to an amplifier and then an analog to digital converter. Thebreath detection module may then read the amplified values. The breathdetection module with respect to FIG. 5 and FIGS. 6 & 7 is generallydescribed as reading the amplified values at a sample rate of 100 Hz,but those having skill in the art will appreciate upon reading thepresent disclosure that other sampling rates may be used.

The buffer 500 shown in FIG. 5 stores data according to a first in firstout (FIFO) order. Portion A represents sample which is removed from thebuffer 500 when a new sample arrives. Portion D illustrates new acquiredsample at the sample rate. Portion C represents a portion of the bufferthat together with portion D is used as a buffer length of apredetermined period for detection of intermittent breathing (see FIG. 7). Portion B represents a portion of the buffer that together withportions A, C, and D comprise the buffer length of a predeterminedperiod use for breaths per period calculation (see FIG. 8 ).

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a process flow for detecting breathingusing a breath sensor including a piezo electric element according tovarious embodiments. In one example, the breath sensor may be similar tothat described with respect to FIGS. 17-22 or elsewhere herein. Force,strain, or pressure applied along the piezo electric element of thebreath sensor may be converted to an electric signal that may beconditioned by a signal conditioner. The conditioned signal may betransmitted through a driver to an analog digital convertor to convertto a digital signal which may then be processed by a processor. Theprocessor may be a component of a controller or sensor control system asdescribed herein or may be configured to transmit processed data to thesame.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method of detection of intermit breathing accordingto various embodiments. Intermittent breathing can be manifested as aperiod in which breathing is not taking place. Example, causes ofintermittent breathing may be sleep apnea, simple irregular breathingintervals. The breath detection system may be configured to detectbreathing intervals to determine a baby current status. The breathdetection module may acquire breathing data 600 for an initial period oftime, for example 2 seconds, but other periods may be used. The breathdetection module may then analyze the breathing data samples andidentify intervals in which breathing data are present 602. For example,the breath detection module may go through each sample in a buffer andlocate intervals in which there is data from breathing. The breathdetection module may apply one or more conditions with respect todetection of intervals. For example, the detection module may requirethat breathing signals must satisfy amplitude and duration conditions.Amplitude conditions may set upper, lower, or both upper and lowersignal amplitudes. For example, breathing signals may be required tohave an amplitude greater than 20 mV to filter visible noisedisturbances found to have amplitude around or lower 20 mV. It should beappreciated that amplitude conditions will depending on the signalmethodology and circuitry employed. The duration conditions may setupper, lower, or both upper and lower signal durations. For example,duration conditions may require that duration of currently detectedinterval is longer than 15 ms to be considered part of the breathingsignal, not noise. When the intervals have been detected, the totalduration may be calculated and compared with a predetermined percentageof the whole buffer duration 604 being used, although larger or theentire buffer may also be used in some embodiments. If the totalduration of detected intervals is smaller than a predeterminedpercentage of the whole buffer duration or other predetermined period oftime 608 then the whole buffer is considered to have intermittentbreathing detected 610. If the total duration of detected intervals islarger than the predetermined percentage of the whole buffer duration orother predetermined period of time 612 intermittent breathing is notconsidered to be detected 614. For example, portion A in FIG. 5 mayrepresent a new sample acquired with a sample rate of 100 Hz and thetotal duration of intervals in which breathing signal was identifiedduring portions C and D, e.g., 2 seconds, may be calculated and comparedwith 20% of the whole buffer duration A-D, e.g., 60 seconds. If thetotal duration of detected intervals is smaller than 20% then the wholebuffer is considered to have intermittent breathing detected. In oneembodiment, intermittent breathing detection may be performed on everynew 2 seconds of buffer, although other periods may be used in otherembodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method of calculation of breaths per periodaccording to various embodiments. The period is exemplified as a minute,but those having skill in the art will appreciate upon reading thepresent disclosure that other predetermined periods may be used. Thebreath detection module may calculate breathing rate on a buffer of thelength of 60 seconds, although other periods may be used. As it is shownin FIG. 5 , the whole buffer may be used to calculate breathing rate perminute. For example, breathing rate may be calculated when the buffer isfull after 60 seconds, and then again after every 2 seconds based on newdata acquired. Breathing rate may be calculated by detecting peaks inthe collected signal. Peaks correspond to each inhale interval and arefound at the maximum value in that interval. However, noise may beresponsible for false peaks, thus some embodiments may include steps totake into consideration in order to remove such false peaks. FIG. 8 isone such example. In some embodiments, one or more filtering steps maybe removed or wavelets may not be used in conjunction with peakdetection. Returning to FIG. 8 , breathing data is acquired 700. Thebreath detection module may then process the data using Low passfiltering 702. The filter used for low pass filtering may comprise a FIRfilter for example. The filter may have a predetermined kernel lengthand cutoff frequency. For example, the kernel length may be 11. Anexample cutoff frequency may be 2 Hz such that information below 2 Hz iskept. In some embodiments, a delay induced by filtering of the signalmay be reduced by utilizing forward-backward filtering.

Peaks may be detected using wavelets 704. To reduce the number of falsepeaks, a wavelet transformation may be introduced as an additional stepin peak detection. Wavelet transformation is used in Signal processingto remove noise from signals. Transformation is localized in both timesand in frequency domain where Fourier transformation is localized infrequency. In a first step, peak detection may be performed on thebuffer. Peak detection may be first derivative function performed on thesine function of the input signal. Peaks that are corresponding to amaximum are detected after the derivative function. In a second step,wavelet transformation may be introduced to the input signal. Wavelettransformation used in this approach includes four levels with 2 typesof kernels (both low and high kernel). The input signal is convolvedwith level one low and high kernel. The result of that convolution isthen convolved with second level low and high kernels and so forth untilthe last level. The result after fourth level low convolution may beused further in the methodology. In a third step, peak detection isperformed as explained above with respect to the first step on theresulting signal after the second step. In a fourth step, a list ofpeaks is created using the results after the first step and the thirdstep. In this step, the breath detection module compares peak indexescalculated in the first and third steps. The peak is valid if in an areaaround the current peak from the third step is peak detected in thefirst step. The peak closest to a peak detected in the third step may beconsidered to be valid and others may be discarded.

Peaks may also be filtered 706. For example, after peak detection isperformed peak filtering may be used to remove peaks that are close toeach other and are a consequence of noise that was not filtered.Filtering may include removing peaks that are adjacent to each otherbased on a predetermined minimal distance between to peaks. For example,a minimal distance between two peaks may be considered to be 80 samples(at 100 Hz) which correspond to 0.8 seconds.

The breath detection module may calculate breathing rate at 708. In oneexample, the breathing rate may be calculated as a median value of thefirst derivative performed on peaks after peak filtering. Othermethodologies of calculating breathing rate may also be used.

In various embodiments, the breathing rate calculation may not becalculated until sufficient breathing data for the predetermined periodhas been obtained, e.g., 1 minute, although in some embodiments,breathing rate may be initially extrapolated from fractions of thepredetermined period.

FIGS. 9-12 illustrate various embodiments and views of an example drivesystem 100 for a sleep device configured to rotate a platform of a sleepdevice 140 including a breath detection system 1 as described herein.

The sleep device 140 may be similar to the sleep devices 1200, 1250shown in FIGS. 2A & 2B and include a base 144. A bearing base 148 may besupported on the base 144 in a rotationally fixed position. For example,the bearing base 148 may be bolted to the base 144 or otherwise attachedthereto.

A bearing 146 couples between the bearing base 148 and the platform(see, e.g., platform 1202 in FIG. 2A to allow rotational motion of theplatform relative to the bearing base 148. The bearing 146 may include athrust bearing, a lazy Susan bearing, a slide bearing, plain or journalbearing, a low friction surface, a low friction Teflon surface, or a lowfriction silicon surface, for example. The drive system 100 may beconfigured to rotate the platform in a horizontal plane, side-to-side.The rotation may be on a vertical axis that extends through the bearing146. The platform may rotationally mount to the base 144 through thebearing 146 and thereon be rotatable over the base 144. In theillustrated embodiment, the platform mounts to a platform mount 170 thatincludes a bearing mount 172 and a drive mount 174. A central portion ofthe platform may attach to the bearing mount 172 using clamps or boltsor other attachment structures. The drive mount 174 may or may notattach to the platform at a position outward of the bearing mount 172,which may include a position adjacent to a periphery edge or end of theplatform. The drive mount 174 motion transfer arm 176 extends betweenthe bearing mount 172 and a drive belt attachment member 178 to transfermotion provided by a drive module 180 to the platform or bearing mount172 in the illustrated configuration.

The drive module 180 includes a motor bracket 182 to which a motor 184(see FIG. 12 ) is mounted. The drive module 180 may attach to or beintegral with the base 144. Torque generated by the motor 184 is appliedto a motor shaft 186, the rotation of which is utilized to translate adrive belt 188. The drive module 180 may include one or more pulleys 190(see, e.g., FIG. 11 ) configured to support translation of the drivebelt 188 as it is driven by the motor shaft 186. The motor shaft 186 maycomprise or operatively couple to a pulley 190. For example, in theillustrated embodiment, the motor shaft 186 connects to pulley 190 dsuch that the pulley 190 d rotates with the motor shaft 186.

While any suitable motor 184 may be used, the motor 184 is preferablyselected to provide smooth, low noise operation with high torque at lowrpm that may be precisely controlled for both position and speed. Forexample, the motor 184 may be a 3-phase permanent magnet synchronousmotor (PMSM), a 3-phase brushless DC motor (BLDC), and the like whichmay be driven by sinusoidal currents. For controlling speed and positionof the motor 184, a motor driver may synthesize three independentsinusoidal voltages with controllable frequency and amplitude for eachphase. The synthesized voltages may have a constant phase offset of120°, which reflects the position offset of three motor windings. Themotor driver may comprise three half-bridges, one for each of the threephases, which generate three independent sinusoidal voltages. Eachhalf-bridge may comprise two MOSFET transistors acting like lowresistance electronic switches. By applying two mutually invertedpulse-width modulated (PWM) signals on those switches, the averagevoltage output from half-bridge may be set anywhere from 0 V to V DC.These voltages are connected to the motor terminals in order to createsinusoidal currents in windings of the motor 184 and appropriatemagnetic flux in a motor stator.

The use of a BLDC motor is advantageous as it enables direct control ofboth amplitude and frequency without the need for an additional motor oradditional gears to manipulate amplitude. The elimination of gears mayenable quieter operation, which is an advantage in this application. Italso reduces the number of moving mechanical parts, which may lead to animprovement in robustness. The use of a brushless motor may also extendthe life of the motor by eliminating brush wear. Typical inductivemotors have an optimum RPM and achieve lower speeds with gearing.Applications with continuous change of direction tend to be difficultfor these motors. An advantage of the BLDC motor is that it operateswell at a wide range of frequencies (RPMs) and has high torque at lowRPMs, which facilitate the rapid change of direction needed by thisapplication.

In order to achieve silent operation, the PWM frequency, the frequencyat which the half-bridges are turned on and off, may be set above 20 kHzand preferably around 40 kHz. The PWM frequency is unrelated to thefrequency at which the motor 184 rotates the platform. Required PWMsignals for a driver stage may be generated by a microcontroller (MCU)based on a control algorithm. The control algorithm may determine thedesired amplitude and frequency of motion based on input from an infantmotion sensing device, an infant noise sensing device, an infant vitalsign sensing device such as a sensor for heart rate, breathing,oxygenation and the like as discussed elsewhere herein and in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/055,077, filed Feb. 26, 2016. Anopen-loop control method which relies on the ability of the motor rotorto stay locked with the stator magnetic flux may be used such thatcontrol of the position and rotational speed of the motor shaft 186, maybe achieved by control of the three winding currents alone.

The drive system 100 may include a control system operable to controlmovements of the platform. The control system may be as described abovewith respect to control system 2216 (FIG. 3 ). For example, the controlsystem may include a control board 168 configured to control amplitudeand frequency of the platform movements by modulating operation of themotor 184. The control system may include or communicate with a userinterface to receive inputs and control instructions and/or outputinformation regarding the operation of the system or an infant. Thecontrol system may be configured to collect data from one or moresensors and control output of motion and/or sound in response to thecollected data. In various embodiments, the control system may besimilar to that described in as described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/448,679, filed Apr. 31, 2014, or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/055,077, filed Feb. 26, 2016. In some embodiments, thecontrol system integrates with or is separate from the control systemdescribed above with respect to the breath detection system or breathdetection module.

As introduced above, output of the motor 184 is transferred to drivebelt 188, the translation of which further transfers the motor output tothe platform via coupling of the drive belt attachment member 178 to thedrive belt 188. The drive belt attachment member 178 may couple to thebelt 188 in any suitable manner. In the illustrated embodiment, thedrive belt attachment member 178 attaches to the belt 188 via clampingto the drive belt 188.

The drive belt 188 may comprise a belt or chain. When a chain is usedone or more pulleys 190 may include spaced apart teeth that insertwithin gaps between pins in the chain to assist in transferring power tothe chain. In the illustrated embodiment, the drive belt 188 comprises abelt having teeth or ribs formed along a side thereof that engagebetween corresponding teeth or rib contours on one or more pulleys 190that the drive belt 188 rotates when translated by the motor 184. Inanother embodiment, the drive belt 188 may include flat sides.

As introduced above, the drive module 180 may include one or morepulleys 190 that support the movement of the drive belt 188. Whilevarious arrangements of pulleys 190 may be used, in the illustratedembodiment the motor shaft 186 couples to a transfer belt 192 via pulley190 d. Translation of the transfer belt 192 is transmitted to a transferpulley 190 a to drive rotation of the same. Rotation of the transferpulley 190 a is translated to the drive belt 180, the translation ofwhich is supported by the transfer pulley 190 a and idler pulleys 190 b,190 c. Thus, rotation of the motor shaft 186 translates transfer belt192 to rotate the transfer pulley 190 a. Rotation of the transfer pulley190 a translates drive belt 188, and translation of drive belt 188rotates idler pulleys and imparts corresponding lateral movement at thedrive belt attachment member 178. The lateral movement at the drive beltattachment member 178 levers the platform or platform mount 170 on thebearing 146 to rotate the platform over the base 144. Correspondingreversal of the motor 184 drives lateral movement of the drive beltattachment member 178 in the opposite direction to provide oscillatingmovement of the platform. The illustrated transfer pulley 190 a includesa lower portion that couples to the transfer belt 192 and an upperportion that couples to the drive belt 188. In other embodiments, thetransfer pulley 190 a may couple to the transfer belt 192 along an upperportion and couple to the drive belt 188 along a lower portion. Invarious embodiments, additional belts and/or pulleys 190 may be used tomodify location or direction of belt movements. The drive module 180 mayoptionally include a tensioner 194 that engages the drive belt 188 toallow adjustment of tension on drive belt 188.

In some embodiments, the platform mount 170 may extend outwardly of thebearing mount 172 to attach to the platform at other locations outwardof the central portion of the platform, such as adjacent to a perimeterof the platform for example. In some embodiments, the bearing mount 172comprises one or more frame members that extend from the bearing mount172 that attach to or otherwise provide support for the platform atperipheral locations beneath the platform.

In another embodiment, the motor output may be directly transmitted tothe bearing mount 172. For example, a motor shaft 186 may mechanicallyor frictionally engage a side or edge of the bearing mount 172 to driverotation on the bearing 146. In one example, the motor shaft 186includes teeth that engage corresponding teeth or gears associated withthe bearing mount 172 to translate the torque generated by the motor torotation of the platform. In another embodiment, the drive system 100includes a linear motor that pushes and pulls the motion transfer arm176 to rotate the platform.

In some embodiments, the breath detection system or breath detectionmodule and components thereof described herein is utilized in a sleepdevice including one or more additional sensors for measuring additionalparameters. For example, the breath detection system or breath detectionmodule may be incorporated in an infant calming/sleep aid device asdescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/448,679, filed Apr. 31,2014, or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/055,077, filed Feb. 26,2016, and include a control system for determining a behavior state ofthe infant, e.g., motion detection, sound detection, and/or detection ofother parameters, and initiating a response including rotation of theplatform in an oscillating manner to soothe or induce sleep. The sleepdevice may include a processing system similar to processing system 1300described above with respect to FIG. 3 . In one example, drive system100 or another drive system configuration may drive oscillatory motionat 0.5-1.5 cycles per second (cps) of about 2″ excursions, but if thebaby is fussy the device responds by delivering a smaller excursion(e.g. <1.3″) at a faster rate (about 2-4.5 cps). This fast and smallmotion may deliver the specific degree of rapidacceleration-deceleration force to the semicircular canals in thevestibular mechanism of the inner ear to activate the calming reflex.The reciprocating motion may have a maximum amplitude of less than 1.3inches during the rapid phase of motion (−2-4.5 cps), further ensuringsafety of the infant. In some embodiments, sound may also be output fromspeakers to soothe the infant. In one example, in response to detectionof infant distress, both vigorous motion of the platform and a loudsound can be provided. For example, providing motion of the platform ata frequency greater than 0.5 Hz and an amplitude that is greater than 1inch, along with sound having an intensity of at least 65 dB, mayprovide appropriate stimulation of the infant. Of course, other amountsof stimulation are also envisioned. In another or a further example, ata baseline, sound output may produce a low-pitch, rumbling sound atabout 65 dB to about 74 dB. If the behavior state of the infant becomesmore distressed, the a more high pitched audio track may be output. In afurther example, the higher pitched audio track may be output at alouder volume of about 75 dB to about 95 dB.

FIGS. 13-16 illustrate another configuration of a sleep device 240incorporating the breath detection system 1. A base 244, platform 242,and related features are shown in FIGS. 13-15 ; however, various sleepdevice configurations may be used.

The breath detection system 1 may include or be configured to operate inconjunction with a base 244 and/or a platform 242 and one or more breathsensors 269. Breath sensors 269 may include any suitable breath sensor,such as those described herein. The breath sensor 269 may be configuredto detect breathing, heartbeat, and/or motion. The breath sensor 269 maybe a part of or configured to operably communicate with a control systemas described herein and/or a breath detection module of a controlsystem.

The platform 242 couples to a platform mount 270 at one or moreattachment points 266. In the illustrated example, one or more weightsensors 2 are positioned at attachment points 266 to locate between theplatform 242 and platform mount 270. However, in other embodiments, theplatform 242 may attach to the platform mount 270 without weight sensors2 positioned at attachment points 266 or at other attachment points. Theone or more weight sensors 2 may include load cells or other weightsensor 2 configuration having a slot through or adjacent to the sensor 2through which a screw, bolt, or other attachment structure may beextended to mount the platform 242 to the platform mount 270.

Weight sensors 2 may be configured to collect weight data for weighttracking and/or weight analysis. For example, the weight sensors 2 maybe configured to measure weight of an infant positioned on the platform242. The weight sensor 2 may be configured to collect weight datacontinuously, periodically, at predetermined intervals, upon receivingan instruction to collect weight data, and/or upon the occurrence of anevent, such as when an infant is placed on the platform 242. In oneembodiment, a user may define or schedule when weight measurements areto be taken or input an instruction via a user interface to collectweight data in a manner as described above. The platform 242 may bemounted to the platform mount 270 at the attachment points 266 such thatthe platform compresses against the weight sensors 2. In one embodiment,weight sensors 2 and/or a control system may calibrate weight sensors 2,e.g., upon startup to zero out the weight of the platform 242.

The platform 242 may be rotatable over a bearing base 248 fixed to thebase 242, which may also include the bearing base 248. Rotation may beon a vertical axis that extends through a bearing 246 on which theplatform 242 is rotatable relative to the base 244. In some embodiment,the platform 242 may be configured to move in other or additional motionpatterns, such as any described herein. As depicted, the platform 242mounts to a platform mount 270 that includes a bearing mount 272 forrotatably mounting over the base 244 and a drive mount 274 for mountingto a drive system 200. A central portion of the platform 242 may attachto the bearing mount 272 using clamps or bolts or other attachmentstructures.

The sleep device includes a drive system 200 configured to selectivelymove the platform 242. The drive system 200 may be configured in amanner similar to that described above with respect to drive system 100(see FIGS. 9-12 ) wherein similar features are identified by similarnumbers. For example, the drive system 200 includes a drive module 280comprising a motor 284 housed in a motor bracket 282. Motor outputrotates a motor shaft 286 that drives corresponding rotation of transferpulley 290 a via a transfer belt 292. Rotation of transfer pulley 290 ais translated to a drive belt 288, which is coupled to the platform 244via the drive mount 274. The drive mount 274 includes a drive beltattachment member 278 comprising a clamp that clamps the drive belt 288to couple to the movements of the drive belt 288. The drive beltattachment member 278 attaches to motion traction arm 176 or directly tothe platform 242 or platform mount 270. The drive mount 274 in theillustrated embodiment includes a motion transfer arm 276 that extendsbetween the bearing mount 272 and a drive belt attachment member 278 totransfer motion provided by a drive module 280 to the platform 242and/or bearing mount 272. In the illustrated embodiment, the motiontransfer arm 276 couples to the platform mount 270 and/or platform 242at a transfer arm coupling 296. While other coupling configurations maybe used, the transfer arm coupling 296 includes an upper clamp portion296 a and a lower clamp portion 296 b configured to clamp the motiontransfer arm 276 to couple the platform mount 270 to transfer arm 276.In another embodiment, the motion transfer arm 276 is retained by pins,bolts, or is integral with the platform mount 278 or platform. It shouldbe appreciated that other configurations may be used to couple to themotion of the drive belt 288, e.g., the platform mount 270 or platform242 may directly couple to the drive belt 288.

To provide room for the platform 242 to move, a gap region 260 may beprovided between an interior facing side 261 of the base 244 and anouter side or rim 262 of the platform mount 270, although in otherembodiments, the gap region 261 may be provided between the interiorfacing side 261 of the base 244 and an outer side of the platform 242.In the illustrated embodiment, the rim 262 extends upward to define anarea to receive the platform 242 such that the platform 242 recessesbelow an upper extent of the rim 262. The rim 262 may assist inretaining a mattress (not shown) positioned on the platform 242 duringmotion of the platform 242.

As introduced above, the breath detection system 1 so arranged with theplatform 242 and/or bearing mount 272 described with respect to FIGS.13-16 may be incorporated in sleep devices 240 having different drivesystems and/or configurations without drive systems. In anotherembodiment, the breath detection system 1 is incorporated with respectto a platform and drive system configured to move in another manner,e.g., up and down; a lateral, longitudinal, or diagonally directed wavemotion; a rocking motion; lateral side-to-side motion on a horizontalplane; a head-to-toe motion on a plane on a horizontal plane; and/or atilting motion on an axis of rotation that extends through or parallelto the major plane of the platform, such as laterally to tilt a firstlongitudinal end of the platform 242 upward while tilting a secondlongitudinal end downward or longitudinally to tilt a first lateral sideof the platform upward while tilting a second lateral side downward. Inone example, the rotation or tilt axis extends a long a horizontal planethrough or relative to a central longitudinal or lateral division orbisection of the platform 242. Such motions may be selected based ondata collected by sensors and analysis thereof as described herein.

In some embodiments, the breath detection system 1 may include a controlsystem and additional sensors as described above with respect to FIG. 3and elsewhere herein. For example, the control system may include ananalysis module and communicate with and provide outputs to a userinterface and/or data storage device. The control system may alsoinclude or interface with another control system operable to control amotor that drives motion of the platform 242.

In one embodiment, drive system 200 may be incorporated in an infantcalming/sleep aid device as described in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/448,679, filed Apr. 31, 2014, or U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/055,077, filed Feb. 26, 2016, and include a control system fordetermining a behavior state of the infant, e.g., motion detection,sound detection, and/or detection of other parameters, and initiating aresponse including rotation of the platform 242 in an oscillating mannerbased on analysis of the measured data to soothe or induce sleep. Forexample, the drive system 200 may drive oscillatory motion at 0.5-1.5cycles per second (cps) of about 2″ excursions, but if the baby is fussythe device responds by delivering a smaller excursion (e.g. <1.3″) at afaster rate (about 2-4.5 cps). This fast and small motion may deliverthe specific degree of rapid acceleration-deceleration force to thesemicircular canals in the vestibular mechanism of the inner ear toactivate the calming reflex. The reciprocating motion may have a maximumamplitude of less than 1.3 inches during the rapid phase of motion(−2-4.5 cps), further ensuring safety of the infant. In someembodiments, sound may also be output from speakers to soothe theinfant. In one example, in response to detection of infant distress,both vigorous motion of the platform 242 and a loud sound can beprovided. For example, providing motion of the platform 242 at afrequency greater than 0.5 Hz and an amplitude that is greater than 1inch, along with sound having an intensity of at least 65 dB, mayprovide appropriate stimulation of the infant. Of course, other amountsof stimulation are also envisioned. In another or a further example, ata baseline, sound output may produce a low-pitch, rumbling sound atabout 65 dB to about 74 dB. If the behavior state of the infant becomesmore distressed, the a more high pitched audio track may be output. In afurther example, the higher pitched audio track may be output at alouder volume of about 75 dB to about 95 dB.

The platform 242 also includes an optional attachment mechanism 263 forattachment of a sleep sack configured to secure an infant to theplatform in a manner described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/448,679, filed Apr. 31, 2014, or U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/055,077, filed Feb. 26, 2016. In the illustrated embodiment, theattachment mechanism 263 comprises two attachment members 264. Theattachment members 264 include clips positioned at lateral sides of theplatform 242. Attachment mechanism, such as those illustrated, maysimilarly be incorporated with the other embodiments of a platform of asleep device described herein.

The sleep device 240 or breath detection system 1 may include one ormore additional sensors for measuring additional parameters, such asweight sensors 2 introduced above. Such additional sensors may beassociated with a sensor system or control system such as described inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/448,679, filed Apr. 31, 2014, orU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/055,077, filed Feb. 26, 2016, orthat integrates data collected from the breath sensor 269. In theillustrated embodiment, the platform 242 also incorporates one or moreoptional speakers 268 for outputting audio. The audio may comprisetracks selected by a control system or control system thereof based oninputs and/or analysis of infant cries, motions, or other data relatedto the infant collected by sensors positioned to detect parameters ofthe infant. The sensors may include a pressure sensor (e.g., pressuremat), video sensor (e.g., to detect movement and/or collect size data),or motion sensors.

In one embodiment, the breath sensor 269 comprises one or more motionsensors comprising one or more piezo electric elements. Piezo electricelements may be configured to detect pressure, force, strain, oracceleration changes, which may include vibrations. Piezo electricelements may detect propagation of sound waves or pressure changesthrough solid or gas resulting sensor vibrations transduced to aheartbeat detection module and/or breath detection module for analysis,which may include a control system or sensor control system as describedherein. Piezo electric elements may include or communicate with aprocessor and/or storage medium storing analysis instructions executableby the processor for analysis of current generated by the sensor. In oneexample, piezo electric element comprises one or more piezo electricstrips. Such strip sensor configurations may be suspended in someimplementations. Strip sensors may be attached to surfaces such thatmovement of the surfaces stresses or strains the sensor. Strip sensorsmay be positioned between two surfaces such that changes in forcestransmitted between the two surfaces are detected by the sensor. Stripsensors may be position in a sealed gas volume or within a solid suchthat vibrations transmitted along surrounding material are detected bythe sensor via changes in pressure. The strip sensors may be suspendedto isolate the sensors from motion of a movable platform. A piezoelectric element may be positioned at an appropriate location relativeto and within an appropriate distance from the infant to detect motionof the infant, such as vertical motion or other directional motionand/or an associated pressure, force, or vibration. In one example,multiple piezo electric strip sensors may be used at various locations.In an embodiment, a piezo electric element of a breath sensor 249 may bepositioned under a back or other location along the back of the infantwhen the infant is located on a platform. For example, the piezoelectric element may be embedded in a mat, mattress, infant garment,sleep sack, or attached to a movement platform upon which the infant isplaced.

FIGS. 17-21 illustrate various views of two additional embodiments of abreath sensor 269 for a sleep device. The exemplary breath sensors 269include tray design configurations for attachment to a platform of asleep device, but other design configurations may be used. The breathsensor 269 attaches to the platform and is positioned to underlay amattress and an infant positioned thereon. The breath sensor 269 may beposited within a recess and position approximately flush or slightlyabove a plane defined by a surrounding upper surface of the platform.The breath sensors 269 may include a piezo electric element 302, whichmay be a strip or other configuration. Force, strain, or pressure, suchas vibration, applied along the piezo electric element 302 may beconverted to an electric signal for detection of breathing of an infantpositioned on the platform. As noted above, the breath sensor 269 mayalso be used to detect heart beat and motion.

With particular reference to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17-20 , thepiezo electric element 302 may be housed within a sensor housing 304having a base 306 and a cover 308. The base 306 may attach to a platformthrough one or more gromet 310 configured to dampen propagation ofvibrations from the platform to the housing 304. The piezo electricelement 302 may be positioned to detect force, strain, or pressure, suchas vibration, from above the platform to generate an electric signal fordetection of breathing of an infant positioned on the platform. A datasignal port 312 electrically couples to the piezo electric element 302to receive and transmit the electrical signal, wired or wirelessly, to acontrol system or breath detection module as described herein. The piezoelectric element 302 may be suspended within the housing, attached to anupper wall of the cover (as shown), or positioned within a sealedportion of the housing 304 to detect pressure changes, force, or strain.

FIG. 21 illustrates another embodiment of the breath sensor 269including a piezo electric element 302 positioned on a materialconfigured to isolate the piezo electric element 302 from vibrationsfrom a platform upon which it mounts. As shown, the piezo electricelement 302 positions on a foam pad 314 that rests on a base 306. Thefoam pad 314 may extend to rest flush with the base 306 along itsunderside. In another embodiment, one or more cavities are positionedbetween the underside of the foam pad 314 and the base 306. In anotherembodiment, the piezo electric element 302 positions on a firm surfaceand one or more sides of the element 302 are surrounded positionedadjacent to the foam pad 314. The foam pad 314 may extend along sides ofthe piezo electric element 302 to damped vibrations propagated along amattress the breath sensor 269 underlies to further focus detection toportions of the mattress above the piezo electric element 302. In oneembodiment, the foam pad 314 is supported on a cover that covers thebase 306. The base 306 may attach to the platform through one or moregromet 310 configured to dampen propagation of vibrations from theplatform to the piezo electric element 302. The breath sensor 269 mayinclude a data signal port 312, which may be similar to data signal port312 described with respect to FIGS. 17-20 , that electrically couples tothe piezo electric element 302 to receive and transmit the electricalsignal, wired or wirelessly, to a control system or breath detectionmodule as described herein. In various embodiments, the breath sensor249 may be utilized in a sleep device as described herein. In use, aninfant may be positioned on a mattress resting on the platform of thesleep device in the conventional manner such that a height dimension ofthe infant extends along the longitudinal axis of the mattress. As notedabove, the infant may be secured in position on the mattress relative tothe platform with straps or clips within a sleep sack or otherharnessing device.

FIG. 22 shows an example of the base 244 and platform 242 of a sleepdevice 340 including a breath sensor 269 according to variousembodiments described herein. The breath sensor 269 includes a piezoelectric element 302 and base 306 similar to that described with respectto FIGS. 17-21 . The piezo electric element 302 may be positioned on orbetween a foam pad 314 in a manner described above with respect to FIG.21 and its variations. Gromets 310 may also be used to dampenvibrations. The sleep device 340 may be similar to sleep device 240(FIG. 13 ) and be configured with a movable platform 249.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 21 , the piezo electric element302 comprises a strip that extends laterally or transverse to thelongitudinal expanse of a platform to correspondingly underlie amattress or pad positioned on the platform. The embodiment illustratedin FIGS. 17-20 , the piezo electric element 302 comprises a strip thatextends longitudinally or about parallel to the longitudinal expanse ofa platform to correspondingly underlie a mattress or pad positioned onthe platform. Thus, a piezo electric element 302 comprising a strip maybe configured to position under an infant on the platform, preferablybeneath the torso. While various orientations may be used, the piezoelectric element 302 may be orientated transverse or corresponding tothe height dimension of the infant. FIG. 22 illustrates an exampleplatform 242 and platform mount 270 supported by a base 244 wherein abreath sensor 269 is positioned thereon and includes a piezo electricelement 302 that extends longitudinally along the longitudinal axis ofthe platform 242. The platform 244 may be configured to move asdescribed herein. The configuration shown in FIG. 22 may also include adrive system, such a drive system similar to that described herein. Insome examples of the breath sensor 249 of FIGS. 17-20 , the piezoelectric element 302 may be positioned transversely or at other angles.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example network or system is applicable to software, firmware,and hardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, theprocesses described herein may be intended for operation as softwareprograms running on a computer processor. Furthermore, softwareimplementations can include, but are not limited to, distributedprocessing or component/object distributed processing, parallelprocessing, cloud processing, or virtual machine processing that may beconstructed to implement the methods described herein. In one example,collected infant data is transmitted directly to a breath detectionmodule comprising a remote data processing resource or may transmittedto a connection module for transmission to a data processing resource.The data processing resource may comprise a remote processor, which maybe distributed, cloud-based, virtual, and/or comprise a remoteapplication or program executable on a server, for example. The infantdata may comprise raw infant data or raw motion data. In one example,the collected infant data transmitted may be preprocessed or partiallypreprocessed. For example, the collected infant data may be filteredlocally at the sensor or a local processing unit and comprise filteredmotion data, sound data, pressure/weight data, or combination thereof. Acloud-based service may comprise a public, private, or hybrid cloudprocessing resource. In an embodiment, the infant data signal processingmay be performed on the backend of such a system. For example, all or aportion of the breath detection logic may be in the cloud rather thanlocal, e.g., associated with a bassinet or other device in proximity tothe infant being monitored. The backend may similarly be configured togenerate and/or initiate alerts based on the data processing, e.g.,comparison of current breathing to a general or customized breathingprofile.

In one embodiment, a breathing detection system, or breath detectionmodule thereof, includes a remote resource such as a processor,application, program, or the like configured to receive collected infantdata. The service may process and analyze the infant data as describedherein, e.g., filter data, generate breathing profiles, modify or updatebreathing profiles, compare current breathing or breathing patterns togeneral or customized breathing profiles, determine if current breathingor stoppage is abnormal, communicate and/or integrate with hospitalmonitoring systems or other third party systems, and/or generate orinitiate alerts, e.g., phone call, email, light, sounds, motions, textmessages, SMS, or push notifications. As noted above, the remoteresource may comprise a cloud-based service.

In various embodiments, the breathing detection system may utilized todetect health conditions detectable from breathing information such ascoughs, croup, or the like. For example, the breath detection module mayinclude breathing profiles corresponding to detection of heathconditions such as coughs, croup, or the like. The profiles may includefrequency, amplitude, or both corresponding to breathing associated withsuch health conditions. In some embodiments, separate filtering aprocessing may be performed on the infant data, which may includemotion, sound, or both, as described herein. In various embodiments, thesame or similar filtering and processing may be utilized. The system maymonitor the infant data and if a health condition is determined from theprocessing of the infant data, the system may take an action, e.g.,generate or initiate and alert, as described herein.

The present disclosure describes various modules, which may also bereferred to as sub-modules, systems, subsystems, components, units, andthe like. Such modules may include functionally related hardware,instructions, firmware, or software. Modules may include physical orlogical grouping of functionally related applications, services,resources, assets, systems, programs, databases, or the like. Modules orhardware storing instructions or configured to execute functionalitiesof the modules may be physically located in one or more physicallocations. For example, modules may be distributed across one or morenetworks, systems, devices, or combination thereof. It will beappreciated that the various functionalities of these features may bemodular, distributed, and/or integrated over one or more physicaldevices. It will be appreciated that such logical partitions may notcorrespond to physical partitions of the data. For example, all orportions of various modules may reside or be distributed among one ormore hardware locations.

Various embodiments described herein may include a machine-readablemedium containing instructions such that a device connected to thecommunications network, another network, or a combination thereof, cansend or receive voice, video or data, and communicate over thecommunications network, another network, or a combination thereof, usingthe instructions. The instructions may further be transmitted orreceived over the communications network, another network, or acombination thereof, via the network interface device. The term“machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium ormultiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/orassociated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets ofinstructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall also be taken toinclude any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying aset of instructions for execution by the machine and that causes themachine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the presentdisclosure. The terms “machine-readable medium,” “machine-readabledevice,” or “computer-readable device” shall accordingly be taken toinclude, but not be limited to: memory devices, solid-state memoriessuch as a memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only(non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable(volatile) memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk ortape; or other self-contained information archive or set of archives isconsidered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storagemedium. The “machine-readable medium,” “machine-readable device,” or“computer-readable device” may be non-transitory, and, in certainembodiments, may not include a wave or signal per se. Accordingly, thedisclosure is considered to include any one or more of amachine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

The illustrations of arrangements described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of the systems, modules, and processes that mightmake use of the structures described herein. While the presentdisclosure generally describes the breath detection system and processwith respect to a bassinet having a moveable platform, movable bassinetsare but only one of many potential applications. Indeed, those havingskill in the art will appreciate that the breath detection system andprocesses described herein may find application in many infantapparatuses, such as bouncy chairs, car seats, or other infantapparatuses in which an infant may sleep and that may includesignificant non-breathing related motion and/or sounds. Otherarrangements may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure.

Thus, although specific arrangements have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated toachieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific arrangementshown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations orvariations of various embodiments and arrangements of the invention.Combinations of the above arrangements, and other arrangements notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description. Therefore, it is intended thatthe disclosure not be limited to the particular arrangement(s) disclosedas the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but thatthe invention will include all embodiments and arrangements fallingwithin the scope of the appended claims.

The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, anddescribing embodiments of this invention. Modifications and adaptationsto these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art andmay be made without departing from the scope or spirit of thisinvention. Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would beevident to an artisan with ordinary skill in the art that saidembodiments can be modified, reduced, or enhanced without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the claims described below.

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for identifying and responding to infant breath detection, the process comprising: collecting infant motion data; filtering non-breathing related motion data from the collected infant motion data to generate infant breathing data; monitoring for breathing abnormalities comprising performing comparative analyses of the infant breathing data and an infant breathing profile; and identifying breathing patterns specific to the infant in the infant breathing data while monitoring for the breathing abnormalities and updating the infant breathing profile based on the identified breathing patterns, wherein when the comparative analysis indicates that the infant breathing profile has been interrupted, determining if breathing has stopped, wherein if breathing has stopped, determining if the stoppage is normal or abnormal, and wherein if the stoppage is abnormal, performing a corrective action.
 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the infant motion data is collected by a sensing device.
 3. The process of claim 2, wherein the sensing device further comprises a video imaging sensor or motion sensor.
 4. The process of claim 2, wherein the sensing device further comprises the motion sensor, and wherein the motion sensor further comprises a radar motion sensing device, a laser motion sensing device, or an infrared motion sensing device.
 5. The process of claim 1, wherein the resolution of the motion data is at least 1 mm.
 6. The process of claim 1, wherein the motion data comprises measurements of relative movement of an area of a chest or stomach of the infant.
 7. The process of claim 1, wherein updating the infant breathing profile includes converting the filtered breathing related motion data to a frequency domain associated with infant breathing and determining a breathing profile within the frequency domain data that corresponds to a breathing rhythm of the infant.
 8. The process of claim 1, wherein updating the infant breathing profile modifies the infant breathing profile to adjust for individualized breathing patterns of the infant in frequency and/or amplitude.
 9. The process of claim 8, wherein the individualized breathing patterns represent variability in frequency and/or amplitude within a set period of time or over time.
 10. The process of claim 1, wherein updating the infant breathing profile accounts for natural variation in breathing over time.
 11. The process of claim 1, wherein the infant breathing profile comprises a set of trigger events corresponding to deviations in normal breathing, and wherein each trigger event includes a threshold value that the occurrence of which prompts an output signal, and wherein updating the infant breathing profile includes modifying one or more threshold values of the breathing profile.
 12. A system for identifying and responding to infant breath detection, the system comprising: a sensing device for collecting infant motion data; a breath detection module configured to filter non-breathing related motion data from the collected infant motion data to generate infant breathing data, wherein, using the infant breathing data, the breath detection module is further configured to monitor for breathing abnormalities comprising performing comparative analyses with an infant breathing profile, identify breathing patterns specific to the infant in the infant breathing data while monitoring for the breathing abnormalities, and update the infant breathing profile based on the identified breathing patterns, and wherein, when a comparative analysis of the breath detection module indicates that the infant breathing profile is interrupted, the breath detection module is configured to determine if the infant breathing has stopped, and if breathing has been determined to have stopped, the breath detection module is configured to determine if the stoppage is normal or abnormal, and if the stoppage is abnormal, the breath detection module is configured to generate an output signal; and a communication facility configured to communicate between the sensing device and the breath detection module.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensing device further comprises a video imaging sensor or a motion sensor.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensing device further comprises the motion sensor, and wherein the motion sensor further comprises a radar motion sensing device, a laser motion sensing device, or an infrared motion sensing device.
 15. The system of claim 12, wherein the resolution of the motion data is at least 1 mm.
 16. The system of claim 12, wherein the motion data comprises measurements of relative movement of an area of a chest or stomach of the infant.
 17. The system of claim 12, wherein the non-breathing related motion data includes motion data originating from the infant's movements, fabric movements, bassinet movement, or other non-breathing motion.
 18. The system of claim 12, wherein the output signal is received by a control system of a moving platform, or by an alert system.
 19. The system of claim 12, wherein the output signal is received by a hospital monitoring system.
 20. The system of claim 12, wherein the breath detection module analyzes the infant motion data and determines if the infant is suffering from a cough or croup.
 21. The system of claim 12, wherein the motion data comprises vibration data.
 22. The system of claim 12, wherein breath detection module is configured to convert the filtered breathing related motion data to a frequency domain associated with infant breathing and determine a breathing profile within the frequency domain data that corresponds to a breathing rhythm of the infant.
 23. The system of claim 12, wherein the update to the infant breathing profile modifies the infant breathing profile to adjust for individualized breathing patterns of the infant in frequency and/or amplitude.
 24. The system of claim 23, wherein the individualized breathing patterns represent variability in frequency and/or amplitude within a set period of time or over time.
 25. The system of claim 12, wherein the update to the infant breathing profile accounts for natural variation in breathing over time.
 26. The system of claim 12, wherein the infant breathing profile comprises a set of trigger events corresponding to deviations in normal breathing, and wherein each trigger event includes a threshold value that the occurrence of which prompts an output signal, and wherein updating the infant breathing profile includes modifying one or more threshold values of the breathing profile. 